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NEW DESCRIPTION 

t 

OF 

BLACKPOOL, 

* 

IN THE 

r 

PARISH OF BISPHAM, HUNDRED OF AMOUNDERNESS, 
COUNTY OF LANCASTER : 


A Place much frequented hy the Nobility, Gentry, and others, 


FOR SEA BATHING. 


“ How great the joy to view the scene, 
The yellow strand—the ocean green ; 
The sparkling wave—the swelling sail, 
That spreads to catch the favoring gale. 
When from thy bold commanding brow, 
The eye, delighted, seeks below.” 


) ) 




DEDICATED TO THOSE WHO VISIT THE SALINE SHORES OF BLACKPOOL. 





•i 

> i 
O O ) * 



> 




The following authorities have been quoted for ancient matter relative 
to that Place.— Brittanniae Romanum, Ptolemy, Tanner, Cambden, 
Latham, Carlisle, Aston, Baines, Pigot, Cooke, Gregson, Corry, and 
' others. 














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PREFACE. 


Since the period 1782 — 8 , when Dr. Wm. Hutton, F. A. S. S. 
visited these shores, many improvements have been made by its 
spirited inhabitants, to accommodate those who paid them a visit, 
for the purposes either of health, or amusement. It is intended 
to follow the maxim of a great poet: Jucunda atque idonea 
dicere vitae.” Great pains have been taken to rectify former 
errors, as well as to ascertain all recent alterations. This has been 
chiefly effected by actually visiting this place of resort during the 
season, and by personal researches on the spot by the Author 
The Editor of the York Lynx very justly stated of this place :— 
“ Blackpool is very irregularly built—its sea is passing fine—its 
strand is pleasing and salubrious to the visitor.” If Blackpool 
restores health to any one who visits there—let him exclaim in 
the following eulogium on health.—Health, most venerable of 
the powers of heaven ! with thee may the remaining part of my 
life be passed, nor do thou refuse to bless me with thy residence. 
For whatever there is of beauty or pleasure in wealth, in descend¬ 
ants, or in sovereign command ; the highest summit of human 
enjoyment, or in those objects of desire which we endeavour to 
chase into the toils of love; whatever delight, or whatever solace 
is granted by the celestials, to soften our fatigues in thy presence ; 
thou parent of happiness, all those joys spread out and flourish; 
in thy presence blooms the spring of pleasure, and without thee no 
man is happy.” 

The various wants of society in an historical point of view, are 
supplied by the daily compositions of the antiquarian. Three 
liundred and fifty years ago, the diligence of the press began to 


k 



IV 


PREFACE. 


multiply the erudition of the ancients; this mighty engine has 
rolled on the tide of discovery in a rapid and majestic stream ; the 
age of literature has increased in accordance with science—and a 
rational philosophy has invested our species with a full blaze of 
intellectual glory. 

This little work is intended to be useful rather than shining, and, 
from beginning to end, we have always kept one thing in view, 
and that is, to collect information for those individuals who wish 
to inform themselves, respecting these marine situations, existing 
on the borders of the sea. 


e 




HISTORY 


OF 

BLACKPOOL. 


Blackpool, a celebrated sea bathing-place, lies on the western 
borders of Lancashire, on the coast of the Irish sea, in the town¬ 
ship of Layton-cum-Warbrick, in the parish of Bispham, and in 
the hundred of Amonnderness; four miles south-west of Poulton; 
nine miles west-north-west of Kirkham ; eighteen miles west-north¬ 
west of Preston ; twenty-seven miles south-west of Lancaster; and 
two hundred and thirty-five miles from the Metropolis. Peter 
Ilesketh, Esq., of Rossal, is lord of the manor, and has a summer 
residence about five miles up the coast, called Bossal-hall, (for¬ 
merly the residence of the Allens,* during the days of Queen 
Elizabeth.) Resident population of the inhabitants, exclusive of 
visitors, 800 .—This spot, and Lytham, Southport, Waterloo, 
Bootle, Seacombe, Birkenherd, Leasowe, and Sunderland, con¬ 
stitute the chief places of resort in this part of the kingdom. The 
origin of the word Black and pool, intimates its derivation from a 
pool of opaceous water, which is almost extinct; thus it was named 
in common speech, and old writings still extant, “ Black-pool.’^ 
It also appears from ancient surveys of the township, that a pool 
of water was situate at the south end, about a quarter of a mile 
from the sea ; the remains of which are now discernible. It is now 
filled up, and converted into good soil. The original rivulet still 
remains, and may be seen behind what is termed “ Vaux-hall,” or 

Fox-hall;” the water is of a sombre violet colour, in consequence 

* William Allen, born at Rossal, near Poulton, in Lancashire, and for¬ 
merly in possession of Rossal-liall, and its domains, was created Cardinal- 
priest of St. Martin’s, and Archbishop of Mechlin, by Sixtus fifth. He was 
the founder of Douay College; obit Rome, 1591. Vide Dodd’s Church 
History, and the Biographical Dictionary. 



G 


HISTORY OF 


of its precolatiiig through hind well calculated for a turbary, being 
naturally peaty. The proper name of the hall of the Tyldesley’s 
is Vaux-hall. The arms borne by this noble and ancient family, 
stands thus in the heraldry book by Wotton—Argent, three mole 
hills vert; crest.—A pelican in her nest, with wings elevated, 
feeding her young ones, gutte de sang, all or; vulned proper. 

“ The pelican there dipped her wing 
In the mild mountain’s crystal spring. 

And bore within her faithful breast 
The welcome nurture to her nest.” 

Sir Thomas Tyldesley, was joined in commission with Walter, 
second Lord Aston, by Charles 1st, in 1646. This monarch ac¬ 
knowledged by a letter under his own hand from Newcastle, dated 
June 6th, 1646; “that he considered Sir Thomas Tyldesley as 
one of his most loyal subjects,” when he was governor of Litchfield, 
during the civil wars. It is also stated that Edward Tyldesley, 
Esq., was made by charles 2d, in the year 1660, a knight of the 
royal oak. His estates, according to Wotton, were said to be 
worth lOOOl. per annum clear of all incumbrances. When Prince 
Charles Edward Stuart attempted to gain the throne of England, 
in 1715, it was intended that he should land amongst them, and be 
secreted by Sir Thomas Tyldesley, who fitted up this once noble 
mansion for his immediate reception. It was formerly walled round, 
and possessed a noble gateway to the south; and as an ancient poet 
says, all is 

Conceal’d in ruins, moss and weeds, 

While, ever and anon, there falls 
Huge heaps of hoary moulder’d walls. 

Yet time has seen, that lifts the low, 

And level lays the lofty brow. 

Has seen this broken pile complete. 

Big with the vanity of state ; 

But transient is the smile of fate ! 

A little rule, a little sway, 

A sun-beam in a winter’s day. 

Is all the proud and mighty have 
Between the cradle and the grave.” 

The rude stone placed in the basement of the out-house or barn, 
in alto relievo, is a curious piece of antiquity, as belonging to the 
Tyldseley’s of Morley and Blackpool;—it contains, cut in pretty 
good style, although impaired by ages, the crest as mentioned 
above. 


BLACKPOOL. 


7 


Dugald Moore has apostrophized the crest in a few lines entitled 
“ The pelican’s nest.” 

Her home was in the waste—a bower, 

A little grove of lively green, 

Like some love spot of shade and flower. 

Amid the pathless ocean seen; 

Or little clouds at eve that lie. 

When all the track of heaven is red. 

Far in the bosom of the sky. 

Half by the bright effulgence hid.’^ 

* 

Leigh speaks thus of this hall at Blackpool:—The most 
southerly house in the extensive but scattered range of Blackpool, 
bears the appellation of Fox-hall, but its proper and genuine name 
is Vaux-hall; titled by Sir Thomas Tyldesley after one of the 
family connexions, the ‘ Be Vaux’s’—who intermarried with the 
Tyldesley’s.” Tradition has it Foxholes. A beautiful tale occurs, 
entitled De Vaux by B. S. L. in the Miscellany for 1827-—8, 
when Father FTesketh forms a prominent character in that pleasing 
but chaste composition. This place (Vaux-hall) and a place called 
the Gin,” (now occupied by Mr. John Forshaw,) were, fifty 
years ago, the only places of resort. Vaux-hall is now a modern 
farm-house. 

Blackpool forms a curtain or straight line for many miles. Tire 
bank or cliff, which is of argillaceous clay, rises to various heights, 
from three to sixty feet above high water mark. The houses grace 
the sea-bank, but are scattered to the extent of a mile; many of 
them front the ocean, with an aspect exactly west, and are appro¬ 
priated for the reception of company; the others, which are the 
dwellings of the inhabitants, chiefly form the back ground. We 
must not omit to state that Blackpool is not mentioned in any 
of the old maps of the county, which shews that it was only con¬ 
sidered in those days as a kind of sea-side residence for fishermen 
and others. Blackpool may be from forty-three to forty-seven 
years standing as a place of resort. It can be remembered twenty 
years ago, that a cottage now the news-house, was the only one of 
public resort; and the place now titled the coffee-room, was a 
blacksmith’s shop. Mr. Alexander Suter of Halifax, states— 
that about thirty-five years ago, the house bearing the name of the 
Yorkshire house, was only a kind of lodging-house for people from 
Halifax—and, that, he thought the house should have a name in 
common with others; therefore, a friend of his procured some blue 


8 


HISTORY OF 


milk and lime, and with a brush he painted the words Yorkshire 
house the appellation has been retained ever since. It may be 
said, that this healthy spot, derives its chief support from Preston, 
Blackburn, Manchester, Wigan, and Bolton ; and immense quan¬ 
tities of people resort here from Leeds and other parts of Yorkshire. 

No watering-place can be better situated—opening out to the 
sea—refreshed with a pure and bracing air—presenting a fine, 
smooth, and solid strand—new modelled by each returning tide— 
always firm, safe, and elastic. The efficacy of sea bathing may be 
nearly the same at one spot as another, but this observation will not 
apply to the air:—different aspects, situations, and soils, produce 
different kinds of air more or less beneficial to the human con¬ 
stitution. The soil at Blackpool is not deleterious so as to pollute 
the air. The land is sufficiently elevated without any high inter¬ 
vening hills. It has the peculiar advantages of sea breezes, just in 
proportion as westerly winds are more frequent than any other; 
and as there are no swamps in the vicinage, the air is probably as 
pure as can be ; a proof of its salubrity being the true cause of the 
longevity of the inhabitants. 

As you walk upon the sands, looking towards the beach, the 
light brown argillaceous clay appears to the eye, in a rugged and 
imperfect aspect. It is well that the proprietors of the inns and 
others have laid reticulated stone work, fastened by iron cramps, 
sloping towards the shore as a preservative to the banks above, 
otherwise the sea would make such encroachments, as would 
eventually sweep the whole of the promenade away at some future 
period. Every precaution ought to have been taken against the 
incursions of the ocean during the year 1829. It appears on ex¬ 
amining the tide tables for that year, that the flux of the tides rose 
very considerably higher than they had done for the fourteen years 
preceding. 

OCEAN. 

“ ■- ■ ■ - -To hear 

The roaring of the raging elements. 

To know all human skill, all human strength, 

Avail not:—to look around and only see 
The mountain wave incumbent with its weight 
Of bursting waters, o’er the reeling bank ; 

Oh God ! this is indeed a dreadful thing!” 

The sea at Blackpool forms a complete semi-circular in concave, 
as it appears from the beach. The parade is very irregular to the 




BLACKPOOL. 


9 


front of the inns and other marine dwellings, owing in a great de • 
gree to the ravages of the sea during the winter of 1821, 

The majestic and swelling ocean, presents at once an outline 
infinitely diversified, and unceasingly interesting. We find in the 
sacred scriptures that God said, “ Let the waters under the heavens 
be gathered together in one place, and let the dry land appear, 
and it was so. And God called the dry land earth, and the 
gathering of the waters, called he sea: and God saw that it was 
good.” The horror of a rough sea at Blackpool, is almost indes¬ 
cribable, and particularly so, when there is a strong westerly 
breeze, the distant roar of the sea^—the oscillation of the waves—• 
the white surge—the clouds riding upon the wings of the elements, 
propelled by the varying god Eolus—the vivid hue of the distant 
horizon—the wide curtains of the heavens opening, and, discovering 
to human view, the sun-beams darting forth their refulgent rays on 
a bright crimson sky—shows forth the beauty and glory of a setting 
sun. All this forms a singular but yet awful combination of the 
pleasing and sublime. This is heightened more so, when a heavy 
and tremendous storm is approaching. The constant motion of the 
vast expanse (sea) must eventually tend to purify that saline mat¬ 
ter, and the vapours arising from this watery element is sufficient 
to fill air the rivers in the known world. 

Rolling in foaming billows, 

Uplifted roars the boist’rous sea : 

Mountains and rocks now emerge, 

Whose lofty summits pierce the clouds ! 

Meandering thro’ the open plain 
With placid stream the river flows. 

Gently glides the limpid brook 
In murmurs soft through mossy vales.” 

The reader, it is hoped, will pardon us for this digression on the 
sublimity of the ocean. 

Blackpool is furnished with excellent accommodations, although 
it is a pity but what there had been some kind of uniformity ob¬ 
served, as all sea-bathing places ought to have their houses built up¬ 
on a plan entirely unique. Four assemblies have been known to take 
place in one week, during the bathing season (July to October). 
In fact, the rooms at the hotels are very extensive. Banks’s is the 
most commodious. The inhabitants seem to have no taste for 
ornamenting their door-ways or windows with trellis work or veran¬ 
dahs, or with jessamines, woodbines,' or holly-hocks, similar to 

B 


\ 



10 


HU TORY OF 


those at Soulhpoi t; au<l many of the sea-bathing situations in tlie 
South. It is not to be wondered at, that there are here frequently 
at the Ilux of the season, from eight hundred to a thousand visitors. 
IJIackpool has most certainly been honored, since its commencement 
as a watering place, by persons of distinction and fashion. Black¬ 
pool and Lytham are still frequented by those individuals, although 
some seasons may cause a difference; as many may be called off 
to the Continent, or otherwise pay a visit to Scotland, Ireland, the 
Lakes, or some other popular watering spot. 

If a scheme were put into effect, which we have no doubt would 
answer every purpose for which it might be designed for—and that 
is, for intersecting this part of the country with a branch or branches 
from the Lancaster canal.—If this were fully accomplished, packet- 
boats might regularly ply from the populous parts of Lancaster, 
Garstang, Preston Blackburn, and other places to the vicinity of 
the sea. Why not a rail-road be formed betwixt Preston and 
Lytham ? This would eventually answer; as goods might be 
brought from the vicinity of Blackpool and Poulton; but more of 
this under the article “ Lytham.’’ 

The cheapness and facility of the canal communication by the 
packet-boats to Scarisbrick bridge from the interior, have combined 
to increase the number of visitors to Southport, and why iiot have 
the same effect in regard to Blackpool ? 

COACHES. 

Coaches run daily to Blackpool (through Lytham) from Preston 
during the season, and from that central point, the communication 
with every part of the kingdom is easily effected. 

The hotels and other houses of reception, are scattered along the 
beach with an aspect towards the Irish sea; and in the rear are 
the dwellings of the villagers. The cottages on the beach, have of 
late years, (say, within these ten years,) considerably increased, 
and, they serve, with the hotels in the centre, to give to the place, 
when viewed from the sea, a large and imposing appearance. 

PROMENxVDE. 

On the margin of the sea, (formerly fenced by white railing from 
its* precipitous banks, but taken away by the incursions of the 
ocean,) is the parade, where the valetudinarian inhales the sal- 
mare in perfection, and those who resort to Blackpool not only to 


BLACKPOOL. 


11 


seek lieakli, but to enjoy and preserve it, find this a very agreeable 
promenade. 

Rides.— The sea at this healthy place retreats nearly half a 
mile at low water, leaving a bed of sand, perfectly adapted for the 
rolling of a gentleman’s equipage. This extensive ride continues 
nearly twenty miles. Here the ladies and g-entlemen may display 
their horsemanship; and those who command neither horse nor 
carriage, may perhaps find equal pleasure in walking. This fine 
bed is re-modelled every returning tide, but is always left nearly 
the same. Sea-weeds and sea-shells, those curious productions of 
nature, are not very plentiful here. Specimens of beautiful shells 
are often brought here from Liverpool, where the conchologist may 
_suit his fancy^ The water here is more barren than the land: it 
produces very few fish, and the tables at Blackpool are not very 
w^ell supplied with the piscatory tribe. 

As the land gradually rises from the shore, the eastern views are 
confined. The principal object is the fine open sea, which is ever 
under the eye. Its infinite variety from the weather, being fine— • 
sombre—windy—and its own flux and reflux—afford a perpetual 
source of amusement. From hence may be distinctly seen, on a 
favourable day, when the atmosphere is clear, the promontory of 
Furness; and at the distance of forty miles the fells of Westmore¬ 
land, the crags of Lancashire, and the hills of Cumberland ; these 
are all to the north. To the south, at the distance of about fifty 
miles, and lengthening to a much greater extent, are seen the ro¬ 
mantic mountains of North Wales. They appear in solemn majesty, 
and, as if disdaining the low situation of the sea, tov/er towards the 
clouds. This beautiful range comprehends a north view of the 
counties of Chester, Denbigh, Cesrnarvon, and the Isle of Angle- 
sea. The Isle of Man, nearly in front, is seen in some particular 
situations, but from the convexity of the globe, it affords a dimi- 
' nutive view : the likeliest time to discover the island is, when the 
sun has just set behind it; but even then we see it indistinctly ; the 
small summits of two or three hills, which barely break the lines 
of the horizon, afford but little satisfaction to the beholder:— 
many persons may differ from this opinion, 

LOW WATER. 

It must be considered that Blackpool at low water is more than 
half a mile from the sea. The tide at the flux brings the briny 


12 


HISTORY OF 


element even to the door ; and moreover, the firm fabric of the 
earth is here an insuflicient barrier against the mighty body of 
waters, which at the periodical flow, roll against the beach. 

“ Ocean exhibits, fathomless and bread. 

Much of the power and majesty of Gcd.” 

Bcethia. 

Those who assemble on the beach, or the strand in the afternoon, 
for walking, riding, or reading, constitute variety, and make it a 
very pleasant place of resort. But towards the close of a fine sum¬ 
mer’s evening, when the splendor of Sol is fast declining, and tints 
the whole scene with a golden hue; the sea shore so vastly grand, 
becomes truly sublime. The noble expanse of the dark green wa¬ 
ters oscillating immediately before you—the distant rocks catching 
the last rays of the departing sun—contrasted by the rugged argil¬ 
laceous cliffs—the stillness of the scene, interrupted by the gentle 
murmus of the waves beating at your feet, as you approach them ; 
or, perhaps, by the solemn dashing of oars, and at intervals by the 
hoarse bawling of the fishermen, forming a kind of marine music, 
in full unison with the surrounding objects, are altogether calcu¬ 
lated to inspire so pleasing a train of thoughts to the contemplative 
stroller, that he does not awake from this delightful reverie till 

“ Black and deep the night begins to fall.” 

PENNY STONE. 

A large stone, presenting at a distance the appearance of the 
base of an obelisk, called Penny Stone, stands upon the sands, 
about half a mile from the shore, and, tradition says, marks the spot 
where a public-house stood in days of yore, when a tankard of ale 
sold for a penny. It is now covered with sea-weed instead of 
hooks, and appears, indeed, a venerable piece of antiquity. It is 
very clear that the sea has made great encroachments from time to 
time. The ancient road to Bispham has disappeared, and the pre¬ 
sent road has been so narrowed that every carriage which passes 
over it, is exposed to the danger of rolling dow n the cliff ! 

The firm and smooth sands of Blackpool with the gradual descent 
of the beach, render the operation of bathing very safe and agree¬ 
able. The time of immersion is usually at the flux of the tide ; and 
the regulations which prevail (if acted upon) tend much to good 
order and decorum. Some use machines, and others walk from 



BLACKPOOL. 


13 


their apartments in their water dress. Rules were originally pre¬ 
served when alcoves were placed upon the beach—but now, alas, 
they are gone. 

When Dr. Hutton visited Blackpool in the years 1782—8, rules 
and regulations existed which are now obsolete. Hutton says:— 
“ Sea bathing, combined with air, exercise, and relaxation from 
business, seldom fails to impart or to improve health. The people 
on this coast are generally long-lived. Their healthy looks and 
vigorous old age recommend the place they inhabit to public favour, 
their longevity therefore becomes a matter of boast; and it is men¬ 
tioned here with some zest, that an old woman, while she stood 
mourning over the fate of her departing friend, exclaimed—‘ Poor 
Jack, I knew him a clever young fellow fourscore years ago.’” 

At Blackpool, as at most of watering places, there is a good 
deal of festivity, and the enjoyment of gastronomy frequently 
counteracts the benefit of both the sea and air; this is an evil to be 
shunned; and he who leaves home in search of health, and returns 
without finding it, has no reason to complain of his ill success, if, 
during the period of Kis absence, he has lived two days in one. 

During the dog days, the ancients always formed one opinion, 
which was, that during those days all physic should be declined, 
and the cure committed to nature. This season is called the 
“ Physician’s vacation.” The dog days—or time for sea-bathing, 
alludes to the dog star mentioned by Churchhill, as following in 
the train of July, signifies the period of the days when the great 
dog, Sirius reigns. Horace alludes to the extreme heat of the 
hour of the little dog, Procyon, in his ode to the “ Fountain of 
Bandusia— 

‘‘ Te flagrantis atrox hor caniculae 
Nescit tangere : tu frigis amabile 
Fessis vomere tauris 
Praebes et pecori vago.” 

There were a certain number of days before and after the heliacal 
rising of Canicula?, or the dog star, in the morning. The dog days 
in our modern almanacks, occupy the time from July 3d, to August 
11th; the name being applied now, as it was formerly, to the hot¬ 
test time of the year. 


14 


HISTORY OF 


ECCLESIASTICAL ENDOWMENTS. 

Grant I may ever, at tlie morning ray, 

Open with pray’r the consecrated day; 

Tune thy great praise, and bid my soul arise. 

And witli the morning sun ascend the skies. 

For a long time Blackpool was without any place of religious 
worship; except those unconsecrated temples which the piously 
disposed can make every where. 

in 1820—1, an Episcopal chapel, subject to the parochial juris¬ 
diction of Bispham, was erected here at a cost of 11501., and the 
Lord Bishop of this diocese (Law) consecrated the same on Tuesday 
July 6th, 1821; with suitable decorum and true Christian piety.— 
The Rev. James Formby, was assigned as its minister at that time. 
It is situated on the east side of the village, built of brick, with a 
low embattled tower, surmounted by plain stone pinnacles at each 
angle. The fittings-up are extremely neat, and possess excellent 
accommodations to those visiting here. The communion table stands 
within a kind of semi-circular dome or niche, over which four 
tablets or labels are placed—containing the Lord’s prayer, ten 
commandments, and the apostles’ creed in gilt letters, on a black 
ground. 

At the west end, the following inscription occurs within a label, 
‘‘This chapel was erected in 1820; it contains sittings for 452 
persons, of which number 232 are hereby declared free and unap¬ 
propriated for ever, in consequence of a grant from the society for 
promoting the enlargement and building of churches and chapels.” 
There is a cemetery attached and walled in. 

Queen Anne’s bounty has been added to the living. The minis¬ 
ter’s salary is from 1501. to IGOl. per annum. Present incumbent, 
the Rev. Mr. Thornber. 

FREE SCHOOL. 

In 1817, a free school was established here, where forty boys 
receive instruction upon Dr. Bell’s system. It is built of brick— 
plain Norman windows—supported by subscription, for the special 
education of the poor children in the vicinity. 

INDEPENDENT CHAPEL. 

The first stone was laid on the 21st of March, 1825, in an eligible 
situation near the beach, by the Rev. D. T. Carnson, who delivered 

















BLACKPOOL, 


15 


on this occasion, an excellent discourse. The chapel was intended 
to contain 350 persons; and on Tuesday July Cth, same year, it 
was opened for public worship, when the llev. Dr. Dailies, of 
Liverpool, preached two appropriate sermons to full congregations. 
The collections towards defraying the cost of the building amounted 
to £*2G. 3s. lid. A Sunday school is attached to this chapel. 

AMUSEMENTS, ACCOMMODATIONS, &c. 

The places of amusement are not numerous. Comedians only 
attend occasionally; there is no theatre as yet. The coffee-room, 
news-room, and library, all contribute their share of amusement 
and information, and serve to vary the pursuits of the day. 

Assemblies are occasionally held during the latter end of the 
season (October), at Bailey’s hotel, Nickson’s hotel, Banks’s hotel. 
Fish’s (now Simpson’s) hotel, and the Albion house—where such 
of the company in the place as wish to partake of the pleasures of 
the ball-room, meet and mix in the hilarity of the scene, while 
cards, drafts, and backgammon beguile the hours of the sedentary. 

Every possible accommodation is given by the inhabitants to 
visitors. Besides the numerous inns already mentioned for the 
resort of those who visit there, a number of lodging and boarding¬ 
houses, of the very best description, abound in all parts of the vil¬ 
lage, and may be had upon reasonable terms. Provisions, and all 
the necessaries of life, are abundant and generally cheap, and the 
utmost attention is paid to the wishes and comforts of strangers; 
nor are amusements wanting. The annual races in August or 
September, constitute a very gay and pleasing spectacle. Assem¬ 
blies and ordinaries are held on the occasion, at the principal 
hotels.* 

Every second Sunday during the bathing season a sort of fair is 
held at the Lane-end, (similar to that at Lytham,) in which the 
inhabitants and others recreate themselves in the true spirit of the 
“ Book of Sports;” and where, as it has been archly said by Joe 
Miller, “ the old women dispose of their commodities and the young 
ones of their hearts.” 

* The ball and dining-room at Nickson’s is very large, and contains a neat 
orchestra. The following notice appears in the room:—“The friends of 
Cuthbert Nickson will please to observe, that the senior person at the hotel, 
is entitled to the president’s chair; and the junior, the vice-president’s. Also, 
the ladies to have the preference of the bathing machine.” This notice is ap¬ 
plicable only to three hotels—Banks’s, Dickson’s, and Nickson’s. 


IG 


HISTORY OF 


Sailing and fishing, cannot be classed amongst the amusements of 
Blackpool. The distance to which the water withdraws at the re¬ 
flux of the tide is unfavourable to these pleasures: but that circum¬ 
stance gives a fine expansion to the sands, which are admirably 
fitted both for equestrian and pedestrian exercises, as well as for 
the display of splendid equipages. 

TERMS OF ACCOMMODATION. 

The terms for visitors at the hotels, are 6s. per day private—and 
6s. public; with an addition of Is. anight for a front and Gd. for a 
back bed-room ; at Bonny’s, the charge is 4s. Gd. per day; and 
at Nickson’s hotel and the Yorkshire house, 3s. Gd. per day at the 
first table, and 2s. Gd. at the second, subject to additional charges 
for extra attendance. The working classes of society, are accom¬ 
modated by the villagers at a still more moderate rate; and private 
lodgings may be had on terms corresponding with the nature of ac¬ 
commodation, and the rank of the visitor. 

CHARACTERS 

WHO TENDED TO IMPROVE BLACKPOOL. 

Mr. Bailey, an enterprising gentlemen from the neighbourhood 
of Wigan, kept a billiard and news-room, circulating library, and 
repository. He exerted himself to render Blackpool a noted spot 
for sea-bathing. This gentlemen was, in the end, unfortunate in 
his speculations, and consequently was much reduced in circum¬ 
stances : he departed this life at Wigan, in 1818. 

Mr. George Cook, a gentleman advanced in years, of an eccen- 
, trie disposition, but extremely particular and upright in his dealings 
with mankind, was highly appreciated by the visitors, and con¬ 
tributed much to the improvement of Blackpool. His portrait, 
with that of Mr. Bailey’s, were exposed in Bank’s hotel, in 1822, 
in remembrance of their spirited endeavours to raise Blackpool to 
a state of eminence. He died at Blackpool in 1820. 

A correspondent to the Preston Pilot gave a description of 
Blackpool, in a chaste and exceeding good style—as it appeared 
in August, 1828. 

“ As rolls the ocean’s changing tide, 

So human feelings ebb and flow ; 

And who would in a breast confide 
Where stormy passions ever glow V* 

Byron. 




BLACKPOOL. 


17 


‘‘ Visitors are not quite so numerous as in former years, (though 
equally as fashionable,) and which may, in some measure, be attri¬ 
buted to the untavorable state of the weather, for sea-side excur¬ 
sions. The cottages are well supplied with visitors, although the 
hotel-keepers do not boast ot that success which they have met 
with in seasons gone by. 

“ Blackpool, since my last visit, has been greatly improved in 
new buildings, walks, roads, Arc. The first I shall designate is, 
the introduction of a new road, leading from behind Mr. Banks’s 
hotel to the south side of Mr. Fish’s hotel—where it immediately 
unites with the former line of road* This road is a great improve¬ 
ment, as the old one was become so exceedingly narrow, by the 
encroachment which the sea makes upon the land, (not being more 
than three yards wide in some places,) that a person in a vehicle of 
any sort whatever, if not paying the greatest attention possible, in 
passing along this highly dangerous piece of road, was running the 
hazard of a summer-sault oft' the road to the depth of many yards. 

“ A fine gravel promenade has been tastefully laid out upon the 
beach, to a considerable distance, and which has been formed upon 
the site of the old road. A beautiful green turf walk has been con¬ 
structed, from the beach to the church, through the fields, thereby 
rendering it extremely pleasant; and where covered seats are 
placed—at convenient distances-—for the benefit of those who may 
wish to avail themselves of them.—Several handsome cottages have 
been erected, many of which are built in the neat cottage ornee 
style, (many would call them gothic,) which gives them a neat and 
elegant appearance ; in fact, great credit is due to the projectors. 

“ A very extensive inn has also been erected, which assumes the 
title of the ‘ Albion house’—it is fronting the sea-—and well fitted 
up for the reception of visitors, the rooms being very capacious :—■ 
also, a new and complete pile of buildings, including billiard-room, 
post-office, news-room, &c.; and other offices suitable for such a 
watering-place. 

‘‘The scenery which presents itself to the eye of a visitor here 
is truly grand.—The sea is always acknowledged by Geologians, to 
comprehend more than one half of the globe, and which, at times, 
wears an aspect calmly beautiful; at others terribly grand—enough 
indeed, to appal the stoutest heart. There the merchant seeks his 
fortune—the mariner a grave. The vessels upon its surface, which 
are, upon an average, from one to six, remind us of what an 
extensive commerce is carried on betwixt one port and another; 

c 


18 


IIISTOKY OF 


and amongst those, 1 must class the Tdvorpool and Lancaster steam 
boat, the John o’ Gaunt, which oftentimes favors us with a view, 
in conveying passengers to and from these places. The extensive 
range of hills in Cumberland, Westmoreland, cl"C., are observable 
on directing the eye to the northward, at a distance of forty miles- - 
to the south, at a distance of tifty miles, are seen the mountains 
of North AYales, comprehending extensive views in the several 
counties of Chester, Flint, Denbigh, Caernarvon, and the Isle of 
Anglesea. One evening, as I was sitting ruminating on the beach 
—opposite the sea—1 perceived two immense hills at a distance, 
which my curiosity prompted me to enquire about; upon which, 
an old lisherman, wliowas standing near me, (and who seemed to 
have encountered the perils of the ocean,) informed me, that it 
was the Isle of Man, at a distance of sixty miles, and which, as 
I understood, can only be seen at the moment the sun is setting 
behind it; but even at this time it was very indistinct, owing to the 
weather being very unfavourable for such an extensive view. The 
young—the old—and thedecrepid, seem to participate in the bless¬ 
ings of this place ; and, in fact, it may be considered the restorer 
of health ; indeed, from the efficacy of the sea-water, and the salu¬ 
brity of the air, Blackpool may be considered equal, if not superior, 
to any sea bathing-place in existence. The beauties, the use, and 
the pleasures of Blackpool increase. The indigent bless the source 
of relief—the visitants regret the time of their departure—reflect 
upon their journey with pleasure—and eagerly desire a return.” 

REMABKS, MADE IN JUNE, 1880. 

Many handsome residences grace the southern shore of Black¬ 
pool. It is about half-a-mile from the village. 7’his place may 
be properly termed South Blackpool,” and is well attended by 
visitors during the season. 

The stone embankment and parade, opposite Banks’s and Nick- 
son’s hotels is now fully completed, and will be of great advantage 
to visitors. Hand-railing is also placed to protect the promenade. 

Mr. John Greenwood of Preston, has erected a neat cottage 
near Mount Pleasant, ornamented with a pretty verandah. 

The seats or benches fronting Mr. Banks’s hotel are a great ac¬ 
commodation to those invalids who require a little ease, as well as 
to enjoy the view of the sea at tide time. 

The proximity of the sea, to the parade above the shore, is 
certainly of great benefit to those who wish to inhale the saline 
particles arising from the sea at flux. 














BLACKPOOL. 


19 


DIRECTORY. 

Post Master.—Mr. Esau Carter.—Letters ariive at half-past 
eleven o’clock in the morning’, and are dispatched at half-past 
twelve at noon. In summer daily—in winter three times per 
week. 

Archer, Henry, farmer and lodging-house. 

Ranks, Henry, Lane-ends Royal hotel. 

Ranks, Edward, public news-room, lane-ends. 

Ranks and Topping, timber merchants. 

Ranks, Robert, gentleman, 

Rlundell, James, farmer and lodging-house. 

Ronny, William, innkeeper, Ronny’s i’th’ fields. 

Rrown, William, lodging-house. 

Rutcher, Retty, lodging-house. 

Rutcher, James, lodging-house. 

Carter, Esau, grocer, toy dealer, billiard-room, news-room, circu¬ 
lating librarian, and post master. 

Cragg, John, grocer, billiard-room, toy shop, and coal dealer. 
Cocker, J. surgeon, Albion house. 

Carter, A. dress-maker. 

Cardwell, Thomas, grocer. 

Carter, John, blacksmith. 

Carter, Richard, blacksmith. 

Corner, Cuthbert, farmer and lodging-house. 

Cragg, Catharine, lodging-house. 

Cragg, Rridget, boarding-house. 

Cragg, Thomas, butcher. 

Dickson, Robert, (Dailey’s late hotel,) higher Royal hotel. 
Forshaw, John, gentleman. 

Hilton, Mr., gentleman 
Harrison, J. linen draper. 

Hattersley, Martha, confectioner. 

Hornby, John, Esq., Rakes-hall. 

Jones, Walton Thomas, schoolmaster. 

Leach, L. Yorkshire house. 

Malley, Thomas, boot and shoemaker. 

Metcalf, Rev. Mr., independent minister. 

Moon, Richard, butcher. 

Malley, Mrs., confectioner. 

Moore, Thomas, gentleman, South Blackpool. 


•20 


mSTOIlY OF 


Moreland, bookseller. 

Nicksoii, Cutlibert, (late Forshaw’s hotel,) now iSickson’s Ivoyal 
. hotel. 

Nickson, William, boarding-house, &c. 

Nickson, Thomas, board and lodging for ladies and gentlemen— 
Albion house. 

Ogle, Joseph, mercer and draper. 

Parr, William, joiner. 

Redman, John, lodging-house. 

Shaw, William, gentleman. South Blackpool. 

Simpson, Thurstan, boot and shoemaker. 

Ditto do. board and lodging-house for ladies and gentle¬ 
men—Rose cottage. ^ 

Singleton, William, joiner. 

Slater, James, yeoman, Vaux-hall. 

Swarbrick, Samuel, farmer and lodging-house. 

Simpson, John, (late Gaskell’s and Fish’s hotel,) Commercial 
hotel. 

Topping, William, joiner and grocer. 

Thornber, Rev. Mr., curate of Blackpool. 

Walmsley, John, grocer and schoolmaster. 

Warbrick, Thomas, farmer. 

Warbrick, Richard, farmer and lodging-house. 

COACFIES TO prf:ston. 

From Nickson’s Royal hotel—every day, at all hours. 

The Yorkshire house-—every morning (Sundays excepted) at half¬ 
past five; returns at eight in the evening. 

Gaskell’s hotel, (now Simpson’s Commercial hotel), every after¬ 
noon, at half-past three ; returns at half-past eight in the morning. 
Banks’s hotel—eight in the morning ; returns at six in the evening. 
Albion house—every day during the season. 

CARRIER TO PRESTON. 

James Cragg—every Wednesday and Saturday in the summer 
season. 


\ 









BLACKPOOL. 


21 


CURIOUS 

PHILOSOPHICAL REMARKS UPON BLACKPOOL: 
BY DR. W. HUTTON, F. A. S. S.—IN 1788. 


“ Classical qiiotation is the parole of every literary man. There is a commu¬ 
nity of mind in it.’^ 


TREES. 


“ There is neither hedge or tree in the whole vicinage. This 
want may arise from two causes—wind and idleness. Moderate 
winds purify the air, and are favorable to vegetation, but the boist¬ 
erous winds tend to prevent it. If we observe a common forest 
tree, we shall find its growth more rapid in a calm, than in a windy 
summer; rocked with violence, instead of acquiring bulk, it can 
scarcely preserve its own. But, perhaps, the chief want of timber 
is owing to idleness. Their fathers did not plant, neither will they. 
A bank and ditch, their common boundary and curtain, are easier 
made without a hedge, than with one. They (the people of Black¬ 
pool) would sooner be deprived of the ornament of beautiful trees; 
be without their profit, and without their use—as a shade even— 
from the sun and wind, than be at the trouble to rear them and 
nurse them for maturity. It must be allowed, that this is a naked 
country, though fertile, yields but a barren aspect. The man who 
has an opportunity of planting, and will not, is neither a friend to 
his country nor himself.” 

LAND. 

** The land in Lancashire is extremely good—the views de¬ 
lightful—and abounds with gentlemen’s seats. While at Black¬ 
pool, I frequently visited the adjacent farmers for intelligence, and 
found the people extremely civil, and very communicative. Upon 
repeated enquiries into the value of land, 1 was informed it let 
from two to three guineas per acre. Amazed at this enormous 
sum; though I saw an air of neatness and plenty about them, I 
asked if they expected to live in clover? They hoped they should 
be able to pay their rent. “ Impossible ! Do you mean the sta¬ 
tute acre,’ said 1, ‘ for I know no other ?’ ‘ We mean the acre of 


22 


HISTORY OF 




Jl 

A 











ample measure.’ ‘ Then pray, what quantity is contained in tlie 
piece of land on which we stand V ‘ Almost an acre.’ Here the 
wonder ceased ; the field was more than two acres.” 

ON HOADS. 

“ The first step towards enhancing the value of landed property, 
is good roads. Our roads have in no period improved as in the 
reign of George the Third; and there are none in which land has 
advanced with equal rapidity. If roads are bad, the farmers can 
neither bring improvement, nor carry off the produce. The good 
open his markets, and the bad shut them up. It is also the first step 
towards civilization. A connexion with our species tends to hu¬ 
manize—to soften and promote friendship. It introduces know¬ 
ledge, for we are better informed of transactions a hundred miles 
off, than our ancestors were ten. In a commercial point of view, 
the advantages are immense.” 

APPROACH TO BLACKPOOOL, 

AND THE WANT OF MILE-STONES. 

“ The approach to Blackpool is through good roads, which are 
safe and easy for the traveller; but they are attended with the 
same defect as half the great roads in the kingdom—want of mile¬ 
stones to direct the traveller. These are a cheap and acceptable 
amusement; and nothing should be denied the traveller which tends 
to alleviate the fatigue of his journey. Every man wishes to know 
where he is; mile-stones will tell him. He considers them a suc¬ 
cession of intelligent companions, which never swerve from truth, 
(at least they ought not.) They ascertain the exact portion of his 
past and future labour. They prevent imposition; man is just as 
apt to trick a man out of a good shilling as into a bad one ; oppor¬ 
tunity is all that is requisite for both. Mile-stones tend to cure half 
this evil.” 


DISTANCE AND DRIVERS. 

“ I am told,” says the ingenious Hutton, “ that the distance be¬ 
tween Preston and Blackpool is only eighteen miles, but the tra¬ 
veller pays for twenty ; consequently, every time a post chaise 
moves between the two places, somebody is unjustly ousted out of 
two shillings, and all the return is, a smile and a bow from the 

















BLACKPOOL. 


23 


landlord as he pockets the money, while the driver bestows an able 
bodied lash upon the innocent horses, at starting, with a view to 
pocket more.” 

CHAPTER ON MILE-STONES. 

“ Perhaps the reason why mile-stones so little abound is, "not 
altogether the expense, but because they are soon defaced, and ren¬ 
dered useless. I think, on most of our turnpike roads, there are 
either none, or they are hid in hedges, banks, or so far destroyed 
by the rude inhabitant, as to deny information. However modern 
their construction, they quickly assume the antique. One would 
think they contained an attractive power, for every stone which 
should inform the inquisitive traveller, invites one from the mis¬ 
chievous hand. Threatenings, rewards, and punishments, seldom 
avail; human nature will be human nature in spite of resistance. 
But as it is better to secure the house from being robbed, than 
punish the robber, permit me, as a remedy, to recommend to the 
surveyor, a little invention which I introduced when treasurer of 
the Alcester road. It is no more than a plate of cast iron, perhaps 
half an inch thick, sixteen inches long, and eleven broad, with the 
letters raised, to shew the name of the village or town, and its dis¬ 
tance ; the ground black, and the letters white. The plate is in¬ 
laid in a block of wood or stone, according to the produce of the 
country, and plugged fast with holes left for that purpose. This 
simple and cheap invention will prevent an evil, which the laws are 
unable to cure ; will protect public benefit, which prudence cannot 
protect; it will stand the efforts of time, and the vengeance of the 
schoolboy, though pelted by the inclemency of the seasons. The 
founderies at Birmingham produce them to any direction. If a 
man travels through necessity, we ought to soften his hardship : if 
for pleasure, to heighten it. In doubtful turnings, the guide-post 
should never be omitted.” 

LONGEVITY OF THE INHABITANTS. 

“ The inhabitants are remarkable for longevity, which proves the 
air is salubrious. A person told me he had occupied his present 
abode more than seventy years; and another, that ‘ death was a 
stranger at Blackpool.’ During ray writing this, there are, in 
one house, only three residents, and their ages are, sixty-six, and 
eighty-six.” 


HISTORY or 


‘i4 


COMMERCE OF THE SEA. 

“ It may seem a vain' attempt to describe, in a few lines, that 
vast element, the sea; which comprehends more than half the globe, 
and which, at some times, wears an aspect supremely beautiful, 
and at others terribly grand.—The history of man, and his un¬ 
bounded connexions, arise from this fluid. At the top flow intel¬ 
ligence and commerce—at the bottom lie immense riches.—Here 
the merchant flnds wealth—the mariner, a grave.” 

SCARCITY OF FISH. 

“ The scarcity of fish, however, is remedied by the Lune, the 
ATyre, and the Ribble, all in its vicinity. (The river Ribble, ac¬ 
cording to Leigh, produces salmon of the finest flavour—the grada¬ 
tions of growth in this species of fish is enumerated thus ; first year, 
sahiion, smelt; second, a sprod ; thii'd, a mort; fourth, a forktail ; 
fifth, a runner; sixth, a salmon.) A marine diet is peculiarly ac¬ 
ceptable to an inland visitor, who resides where the article of fish 
is scanty and dear. Sea excursions are but little known here, (at 
Lytham, they have sea excursions almost every day throughout the 
season, and mostly three days per week to Southport,) and fishing 
is not one of the pleasures of Blackpool. From the flatness of the 
ground no vessel can approach the shore; nay, we cannot enter 
the smallest boat without wading. The tide rises about tAvel ve feet; 
the spring tide about sixteen.” 

It must be here observed that the John o’ Gaunt steam packet 
calls at Blackpool occasionally, on iier journey from LiA^erpool to 
Lancaster. 

HIE ENCROACHMENrS OF THE SEA, Ac. 

“ 'I’here are no rocks to protect the land, or repel the wave. 
The sea makes slow, but certain encroachments. I was surprised 
to find a road on the summit of the cliff, near Blackpool, with a 
declivity on one side sixty feet deep, and a mound on the other, to 
preserve the eiiclcsure, so extremely n?a'row, as scarcely to admit 
one foot passenger with safety. But my surprise increased when I 
beheld a waggon pass this dangerous road. There could not, in 
some })laces, be six inches between the wheel and destruction. 
Upon my enquiry I was told—‘ It was the road from Blackpool to 
Bispbam ; that there was no other; and that when the person, who 



BLACKPOOL. 


25 


occupies the land, first entered, about the year 1730—he left as 
much space when bounding his bank as would allow for four roads, 
supposing that sufficient to last his-time : but that his four roads 
were, long ago, washed away, and he was obliged to allow as 
much space as would make two more.’ The last of these I saw.* 
My intelligent informer stated many other matters relative to the 
Penny Stone, which stands at least half a mile from the shore.”— 
A description of this antique is given in the beginning of the work. 

HALL OF THE TYLDESLEYS. 

“ The mind recoils at the rehearsal of human woe ; the errors of 
a man are lost in his sufterings ; the enemy vanishes in distress. We 
regret the fall of ancient and honorable families—sigh over their 
remains—and moisten their dust with a tear. 

* If stone embankments were made at Blackpool, and sunken deep into 
the beach below, they would form a barrier against the encroachments of the 
sea. Thus secured and made immoveable, it would arrest and gather round 
it lesser stones and rubbish, and, in time, would form a mass of resistance 
not to be displaced by the most furious waves ; till, at length, by succeeding 
degradations from the parade above it, a new sloping bank is raised above 
the level of the sea. This process is visible on every shore, where the waters 
are not too deep to make this encroachment of the land upon the sea as yet 
visible. Where the beach is shallow, a moderate stone, and piece of wood 
form by degrees, a sand bank, and may, at length, an island. The tide returns 
with much less violence than it flows, and every coming wave adds more to 
the shore, than its return withdraws. If tempests did not occasionally de¬ 
grade this daily work, the elevation of the shores would, even from the opera¬ 
tion of the sea itself, be more speedy, and more visible. The winds too are not 
inactive in adding to the lands. Part of the sea sands is driven towards 
them by their violence, and by degrees, raises extensive ranges of sandy hills 
along the shore. Partial instances of lands swallowed up, or torn away by 
unusual hurricanes and storms, break not the general rule. Nothing seems 
more certain than that the low lands and marshes leading to the sea, are very 
generally raised and extended, and the sea slowly contracted. In every part of 
the world, places known as sea ports some centuries ago, are now a few miles 
from the sea. The labours of man hasten, in many parts, this encroachment. 
If nature constantly acted in opposition to them, vain would be all his art and 
industry.—The valuable works of Wallerius, De Luc, Whitehurst, Hutton, 
Saussere, and Howard, afford a great deal of ample matter relative to the 
nature and opposition of this earth, as to its revolutions and changes upon its 
surface.—Mr. Bailey, the Marquis de Montigny, Cuvier, Buffbn, and various 
others have written some curious matter on the deluge, and on the original 
formation of the present structure of the earth. Mr. Howard’s work on the 
structure of the globe, in 4to, ought to be read by every one who has a thirst 
for knowledge relative to geology.— Ed. 

D 


HISTORY OF 


2G 


‘‘ The most southerly house in this extensive but scattered range, 
at Blackpool, bears the name of Vaux-hall, and was once, perhaps 
in 1748, the only house of public resort; but it is now in ruins, 
yet occupied by a private person. It belonged to the Tyldesleys,* 
an ancient and illustrious family in the county of Lancaster, but, 
like the house itself, long since gone to decay. During the long 
and acrimonious contest between the Roman Catholics and Pro¬ 
testants, this house, under the name of a hunting seat, was a private 
retreat for recusants (Catholics). Divine worship was performed 
by the priest in the principal room, then a chapel, but now a cheese 
chamber. 

“ Sir Thomas Tyldesley, the proprietor, fitted up this residence 
for the reception of the Pretender—and one more proper could 
scarcely be chosen. However appearances may be altered, by 
modern improvements, it stood then at the extremity of wild and 
desolate lands, where a stranger would hardly think of venturing ; 
and, within a very few yards of a dreary sea, which no vessel ever 
approached. Though it contained four or five rooms on a floor, it 
had no pretensions to grandeur, therefore could not excite suspi¬ 
cions. It was also surrounded by a lofty wall, seemingly as a 
screen against the howling wind, but really to convert the place 
into a fortification. The sea was a guard on the west; the pool, 
from whence the place derived its name, secured the east; the 
small rivulet of peaty water, which communicates witli the sea, 
then a swamp, guarded the south, and rendered this little retreat 
only accessible on the north. It also abounded with secret re¬ 
cesses, communications, and hiding places within, to guard it 
against surprise. 

“ There could not be another building in Blackpool during the 
year 1715, that would bear the name of a house. This royal dor¬ 
mitory, therefore, must have stood ‘ the little hall amongst the huts 
of fishermen.’ Nor were the huts numerous, for many are modern, 
and seem to tell the observer, that the place rapidly improves. 

“ The superior houses, for the reception of company, seem to 
have been erected about 1781. A gentleman who had regularly 
visited this abode of pleasure twenty-seven years, assured me, 
when he first knew the place, the little white cottage at the lane 

* Particulars of the Tyldesleys are given in the History of Preston, pub¬ 
lished in 1821; under the title of the Rebellion in 1T15; and in Patten’s 
History of the Rebellion. 







BLACKPOOL, 


27 


end, now the news-house, was the only one of public resort; and 
the spot, now the coffee-room, was a blacksmith’s smithy. It ap 
pears, the people who then visited Blackpool, were chiefly of the 
working class. The company, and the accommodations, will al¬ 
ways bear a proportion to each other. Even in its most improved 
state, Blackpool is yet in its infancy; but the roads, the accom¬ 
modations, the civility, the easy price, and, above all, the fair 
prospect of health, will draw company. This place, which is too 
young to be noticed at a distance, by the gay, or the sickly world, 
derives its chief support from its native county; and Manchester 
contributes the largest share. Thus circumstanced, and visited by 
the lively, it must be delightful in summer; but, perhaps, in the 
same proportion, bleak and solitary in winter. When I saw' it in 
August, 1778; the company were about 400.—I was there again 
in October, when few people were there, except its solitary inha¬ 
bitants—and few sounds w ere heard, except the winds and the sea. 
Society fled, the visitor becomes a silent spectator of perpetual 
cjuarrels between those two surly neighbours, wind and water! 

“ A spot, like Blackpool, v/hich is only rising into existence, 
cannot be expected to furnish those conveniences which are gene¬ 
rally found amongst long established assemblages of men. -Many 
things are wanting to complete a municipia, and all cannot be ac¬ 
quired at once. It is too common—first to serve ourselves, and 
then the Lord. There is here no place of public worship. Bisp- 
ham, the parish church, is the nearest; though divine service is 
occasionally performed in a large room at one of the inns; and a 
methodist preacher may now and then be seen holding forth to all 
who may be inclined to hear him.” 

GRASS WALK, ALCOVES, &c. 

“ He who visits a place of entertainment, expects to find plea¬ 
sure. It is the interest of the inhabitants to multiply amusements, 
that when one satiates, another may be at hand. The spirit of 
diversion is kept up by variety, and different pursuits invite various 
tempers. I have already remarked, that one of the leading amuse¬ 
ments at Blackpool, is to ride or walk: another is to figure on the 
parade. This is a pretty grass walk on the verge of the sea bank, 
divided from the road with white railing. It is perhaps six yards 
broad, and two hundred long, with an alcove on one end only, but 
at the other a vile pond or pit. This parade is capable, by art 
improving nature, of being made one of the most beautiful walks 


HISTORY OF 


2H 

on the island. It might easily be extended to a mile, in a straight 
line, and at no great expense, with an alcove at each end. If the 
connoissieur tells us, ‘ there is no great beauty in straight lines,’ 1 
reply, nature has given this a gentle sweep, or fall in the centre, 
which obviates the remark, and would confer a double beauty.— 
Only two boarding-houses lie contiguous, in its present confined 
state, but if extended, it would comprehend others; besides, the 
walk is often crowded, even in this early stage, which pleads the 
necessity of an augmentation. Side benches, at certain distances, 
with ends and backs, to screen off the wind, and covers to pre¬ 
vent the rain, would be suitable conveniences.” 

ASSOCIATION OF KINDRED FEELINGS; 

OR, LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT. 

“ A perpetual assemblage of company, when the weather per¬ 
mits, may be seen upon this little elegant walk; here is a full dis¬ 
play of beauty and fashion. Flere the eye, faithful to its trust, 
conveys intelligence from the heart of one sex to that of the other; 
gentle tumults rise in the breast—intercourse opens in tender lan¬ 
guage—the softer passions are kindled into action—Hymen ap¬ 
proaches, kindles his torch, and cements that union which continues 
for life. Here are said formal and civil, as well as amorous things. 
Here friendship extends to the lip—and dies in a breath ; vacancies 
of speech are filled up by the weather, and insignificant observa¬ 
tions prevent confusion from silence. Flere the frailty of one 
nymph is whispered by another, equally frail: but the false step 
of one had the good fortune to be hid in darkness; while the other 
was attended with the crying sin or falling under public view.— 
Here may be seen folly, ffushed with money and shoe-strings— 
keen envy sparkle in the eye at the display of a new bonnet—the 
heiress of eighteen, trimmed with black, and a hundred thousand 
pounds, plentifully squander her looks of disdain—the shadow of a 
man, under the appellation of a beau, echo the sentences of others, 
but utter none of his own—the humble miser, who feeds upon 
eighteen-pence a day, and commands thirty thousand pounds, whose 
apparel would not command one. And here may be seen the si¬ 
lent stranger, whom nobody owns, making his shrewd remarks.” 

THEATRE AT BLACKPOOL. 

Beauty displays itself in the dance, and the place is dignified 
with a theatre, if that will bear the name, M hich, during nine months 














BLACKPOOL. 


29 


in the year, is only the thrashing-floor of a barn; but even this 
homely style is vastly superior to that of the ancients: for the first 
comedy ever performed was by Sussaria and Dolarii, 562 years 
before the Christian a^ra, upon a scaffold in the open air; and the 
first tragedy by Thespis, at Athens, in a waggon. I saw the corps 
dramatique arrive at Blackpool, and thought the queen of the stage 
looked as if their dignity was a little hurt at being caught in a cart; 
however, they acted for once without assuming a borrowed charac¬ 
ter. Bows of benches are placed one behind another, and honored 
with the names of pit and gallery—the first two shillings—and 
the other one. The house is said to hold six pounds; it was half 
filled. The amusements with which Blackpool is unfurnished, and 
which might be easily supplied, are tennis and cricket.” 

TIIBEE WAYS OF USING THE SEA. 

“ The man who has money of his own, has a right to spend it, 
otherwise he cannot boast the freedom of an Englishman, If he 
spend it upon the sea, he may expect a return; this is made in 
pleasure, or in health; if the first, by keeping .up his own good 
humour, he may extract that of others, which is an ample repay¬ 
ment ; if the second, the sea will repay him three ways—in air, 
drinking the water, and bathing. Some use all three; but all use 
the first. The time of bathing is generally at the flood; for the 
company being driven from the sands, the place is more private; 
there is a shorter space to travel, because the sea is brought near 
the bank; a bell rings at the time of bathing, as a signal for .the 
ladies. Some use machines drawn by one horse ; a few travel from 
their apartments in their water dress, but the majority clothe in the 
boxes, which stand on the beach for their use. If a gentleman is 
seen on the parade, he forfeits a bottle of wine. When the ladies 
retire, the bell rings for the gentleman, who act a second part in 
the same scene.” 

HEALTH. 

‘‘ Air and exercise ; sobriety and temperance ; the mind at ease, and a good 
conscience ; are tlie grand preservers of health, and guardians of old age.” 

Health is among the great variety of marine productions, and 
happy is the man who finds it. Some seek it in vain, others too 
short a time, and a third class destroy at the table what they gain 


HISTORY OF 


:io 

from the sea. The same misconduct which brings on a complaint 
will defeat the effects of a remedy. A shattered constitution, like 
a decayed building, admits of no cure; it can only be patched. 
He who is possessed of an excellent habit, need seek nothing at 
Blackpool but amusement; but the afflicted must use caution; this 
may long preserve the tenement from falling. 

To attempt a chymical analysis of sea water, and its physical 
operations on the body, might "be thought a trespass upon the pro¬ 
vince of professional men, and, to describe its cures would far 
exceed my limits; I shall, therefore, only relate a small number 
which fell under my own knowledge, without entering into a par¬ 
ticular detail of those people who were carried to Blackpool, and 
walked back; or of those who brought their complaints and their 
crutches, and left both. 

“ I stopped a man upon the sands with a leather apron, whose 
whole apparel did not seem worth a shilling ; he was going with a 
mug for salt water. Upon my enquiries, he gave me to under¬ 
stand—‘ He was a shoe-maker from Lancaster, and was drawing 
towards seventy; that at forty-five his love for the fair sex got the 
better of his prudence, and he married a girl of eighteen. 8he soon 
brought him six children, which had kept him poor to that moment; 
that be had a complication of disorders, the most alarming of which 
was that of being totally blind ; that he had resided at Blackpool, 
in a petty lodging, about six weeks, during which he drank sea 
water, washed his eyes, and sometimes bathed ; that his complaints 
were removed, and his sight so far recovered, as to distinguish an 
object at two miles distance.’ I congratulated his rising happiness, 
and observed, the parish, perhaps assisted him in this expensive 
undertaking. His pride instantly took the alarm, and he replied 
with some emotion, ‘ he never cost any man a penny.’ I farther 
expressed my satisfaction', and we both parted in anjity. 

“ A gentleman of Manchester, in advanced life, was afflicted, in 
March eighty-eight, with a paralytic affection, which nearly de¬ 
prived him of the use of his left side, except, that it did not much 
' afiect liis intellects. His physician ordered him to Bath, from 
whence he returned without receiving any benefit. He then sent 
him to Blackpool, where he arrived during my stay, and was car¬ 
ried in and out of the water. When about three days had elapsed, 

I asked him if he found any alteration ? He replied, ‘ much ; for 
the violent pains in his joints had left him—he had recovered his 
sleep.’ What farther benefit he received, my short stay prevented 










BLACKPOOL. 


31 


me from knowing;. To such an object, temporary relief is all we 
can expect; a cure is not in nature. Could a remedy be found to 
preserve us from the grave, the next generation would rise against 
this, for keeping them out of their rights. The world is freehold, 
held only in tenancy by the present inhabitant, but is entailed upon 
the future. 

“ An emaciated figure at our table, from the same place, that 
must excite compassion from the feeling mind, told me, ‘ that 
though but thirty-two, he had retired upon an easy fortune; but 
having been engaged in the liquor trade, the temptation was too 
strong, for resistance, and the result was a dropsy, but that he was 
much better by residing five weeks at Blackpool.^ What use he 
made of the sea, except to breathe its air, I know not, for I gene¬ 
rally found him even in warm weather, inactive by the fire, and 
believe he was more conversant with distilled than sea water. 

“ A youth of the same place, following the occupation of a silver¬ 
smith, found his sight in 1780, by attention to minute objects, gra¬ 
dually decay, which totally rendered him unfit for business; but 
a visit to Blackpool, in 1787, perfectly recovered him, so as to be 
enabled to follow his employment without a relapse. It ap})ears 
from these instances, that the sea is the restorer, and the guardian 
of health; that the people of Manchester, in particular, find here 
a grave for their complaints, and their money. 

“ Ricketty and puny children find benefit from this friendly ele 
merit. Watered with its influence, the dwindling plant is taught 
to grow. Three drooping infants fell under my eye, who, as their 
parents assured me, had found relief. ^ 

An old inhabitant remarked—‘ a visit to Blackpool commonly 
restored health, if health was restorable.’ ” 

FOOD DESTROYS MANY VISITORS. 

‘‘ 1 need not inform the reader, that food is the support of ex¬ 
istence ; the fatigue of one day’s labour—a craving stomach—the 
long breathing of land or sea air—an ill-furnished pocket, or table 
—will convince him, in stronger terms than all the rhetoric of an 
author. But to many people who are able to taste the pleasures 
of Blackpool, it becomes an inveterate foe—the harbinger of dis¬ 
order—and the enemy of life. It destroys while it seems to pre¬ 
serve. Such a one may be said, to eat his way to destruction, to 
devour up himself. His delight is in smoke, but such only as rises 
from a well-spread table; this is incense of the first flavour; and 


32 


HISTORY OF 


though his life be full of changes, they chietly consist in changing' 
his plate. The temptation to feasting overpowers the resolution. 
He forgets that disease lurks in an excellent dish; and that an 
enemy in ambush is the most dangerous of enemies. 

“ The tables at Blackpool are amply supplied ; if 1 say too well 
for the price, 1 may please the innkeepers—but not their guests; 
however, to enhance the price might be detrimental to both. Fish, 
as 1 observed, as an article expected upon the sea coast, is the 
only one defective, but is supplied from the neighbourhood. 
Shrimps are plentiful. Five or six people make it their business 
to catch them at low water, and produce several baskets a day, 
which satisfies all but the catchers. They excel in cooking; nor 
is it surprising, for forty pounds and her maintenance are given to 
a cook for the season only. Though salt water is brought in plenty 
to their very doors, yet this is not the case with fresh. The place 
yields only one spring for family use, and the water is carried, by 
some, half a mile, but it is well woith carrying, for I thought it 
the most pleasant I ever tasted.” 

EATING AND LODGING. 

“ The prices for boarding are various. The highest is 3s. 4d. a 
day, exclusive of liquors;* dinner and supper Is. each, and 8d. 
for breakfast and tea. Another is 2s. Gd. for eating, the party 
finding his tea, cofl'ee, sugar, and liquors. A third is Is. 6d.; 
amongst this class are very decent people, who wish retirement, 
and are unwilling to lose those advantages at night which they draw 
from the sea in the day. There are also other boarding-houses, 
much inferior, such as that occupied by my friend the shoe-maker, 
whose prices I did not examine ; lodging is included. The money 
for each person’s liquor is collected before the company rises from 
table, but the half-crowns may leinain during the visitant’s own 
time, or till he quits the place. This mode of reckoning is prefer¬ 
able to that at Aberystwith, for there the account is omitted, in 
spite of solicitation, till both innkeeper and guest are puzzled ; this 
neglect, however,, does not appear to originate from a fraudulent 
design, because I observed, the man generally committed the errors 
against himself.” 

* It must be remembered that the prices of board and lodging are con¬ 
siderably altered since the year 1788; as may be seen at page 16 in the 
present work. The dilference at the highest table now, is 2s. more than in 
the year above mentioned, and so in proportion. 











BLACKPOOL. 


33 


LAWS IN SOCIETY. 

“ Society without order, can no more be conducted than a king¬ 
dom without laws. Anarchy is productive of injustice—injustice 
gives birth to laws—and laws to decorum. The more these laws 
are adapted to the good of a people, the more that people prosper. 
If they are wantonly made, they are not likely to be kept; but 
when they arise from necessity, they should never be violated with 
impunity. A boarding-house at Blackpool, though consisting of 
one hundred persons, may be considered either as a private family, 
or a kingdom—the same maxims which conduct one, will the other. 
The visitants are of two sorts—those who abound with health, and 
those who want it. It would be kind in the first, to compassionate 
the other. Of all the different species of charity known in the 
Christian world, that of ministering to distress stands first. Acts 
of kindness, by soothing the mind, carry their own reward—rest 
is as necessary to recruit the human frame, as food. If those in 
health are obliged to court sleep, how must the sick attain it ? 
But what excuse can be made, if the healthful wantonly deprive 
the afilicted ? Disturbance reigns at midnight. In a large and 
hollow-sounding house every noise opperates with full effect, and 
j)ervades the whole. Sounds are continually rising during the 
night, ‘ which murder sleep,’ and, repose, once lost, cannot be re¬ 
covered. 

“ It might, if approved of by the voice of the majority, be en¬ 
acted, in this infant commonwealth :— 

“ I.—That every visitant, on his arrival, shall enter his name in 
a book kept for that purpose at every inn, as at Buxton ; and sub¬ 
scribe a shilling. 

II.— No person to take a place at table before dinner is served 
in, upon the forfeiture of a shilling, and every one to be seated 
according to priority. 

“ III.—If any person is vociferous after twelve, so as to disturb 
the peace of the family, to incur the same penalty. 

IV.—The senior visitant, as chief magistrate, to execute these 
orders, or depute another. 

Order is harmony—and is accompanied by happiness;—every 
man should enjoy his own freedom, without infringing upon that of 
another. Silence, at proper hours, would then reign in the family, 
and, the indisposed be favoured with rest. Health is the daughter 
of Exercise, who begot her by Temperance—their sons inhabit the 

sea side, that stretches along the salubrious shores of Blackpool.’' 

E 


HISTORY OF 


ni 


I’hus ends the siiisular but true remarks of “ Dr, Hutton’s des- 
cription of Blaekpoolwhen he was its visitor in the years 178*2-8. 

MEMOIR OE DR. HUTTON. 

Vast and comprehensive as is the held of literature, there is 
scarcely any department which abounds with greater treasures than 
that which professes to exhibit the lives and actions of illustrious 
men, who, by their genius, have contributed to the advancement c»f 
science, and ultimately to the glory and prosperity of their country. 
The biography of every celebrated man is, according to the pecu¬ 
liar circumstances under which the individual was placed, more or 
less a guide to future generations, and especially to the youthful 
aspirant for renown and distinction. In the life of an Arkwright, 
(who was a native of Preston) may be seen what the astonishing 
effects of industry and perseverance, combined with genius, can 
accomplish, even under the disheartening pressure of poverty. We 
have thought proper to give a brief memorial of Hutton, w hose great 
mind condescended to give us a descriptive account of Blackpool. 

William Hutton, F. A. S. S. was born in Full-street, Derby, 
September 30th, 17*23. After many vicissitudes, as mentioned in 
Nichols’s Literary Anecdotes, volume ninth, page ninety-nine— 
he became a bookseller and stationer, and amassed an ample for¬ 
tune. Amongst tlie rest of his literary works, he wrote “ A des¬ 
cription of Blackpool, in Lancashire, frecpiented for sea-bathing,” 
bearing the imprint of 1789. It is mentioned in Nichols’s index, 
volume seven, part two ; ‘‘ that in 1801, he took a pedestrian tour, 
along that grandest of all pieces of antiquity left by the Romans, 

‘ Severus’s Wall’—from Solway Frith, to Cumberland :—vide 
Lyson’s Magna Brittaniae, 4to—article, ‘ Cumberland.’ ” 

This respectable and worthy man died at his house at Bennet’s 
Hill, near Birmingham, at the advanced age of ninety'^-two, Sep¬ 
tember 20th, 1815.—He owed much to nature, and nothing to 
education. He began the world with the sum of seventy-three 
shillings and sixpence, which he borrowed of his sister, and a chest 
of old books, which w’^ere sold to him on unlimited credit. Talents, 
industry, and economy—three qualities which do not often meet in 
the same person—-jointly made his fortune; indeed, his capacity 
was sufficient to embrace three objects at once, and pursue them 
all with avidity and perseverance. 

A portrait is prefixed to his book of Poems : and a view of his 
house at Bennet’s Hill may be seen in the Gentleman’s Magazine, 











BLACK POOL. 


3.J 

volume eighty-five. I’he name of Hutton deserves to be enrolled 
on the imperishable tablets of tame, and to take his rank amonst 
those great worthies of the human race, who, by the irresistable 
force of their genius, have broken through the trammels of igno¬ 
rance, and caused the day star of mental illumination to rise on the 
benighted nations of the world. 


Mr. Mogg’s account of Blackpool is very flattering, and is as 
follows:— 

“ Blackpool, as a sea-bathing place, is wholly of modern date ; 
but the salubrity and beauty of its situation, on account of the sea ; 
the purity of its waters ; and the excellence of the beach—which is 
half a mile broad when the tide is out—have, at length, been duly 
appreciated ; and it is now become, during the season, one of the 
most attractive points in Lancashire. Here are excellent accom¬ 
modations, with reasonable charges—good and extensive rides— 
rational amusements in botany, and other marine phenomena—and 
an infinite diversity of highly interesting prospects. The time of 
bathing is generally at flood ; a bell then rings for the ladies to 
assemble, and no gentleman must afterwards be seen on the parade, 
under the penalty of a bottle of wine ; when the former retire, the 
bell sounds a summons for the latter to enjoy the same invigorating 
amusement. In the sea, at the distance of about half a mile from 
the shore, there is a stone, near which, tradition states, there for¬ 
merly stood a public-house, where travellers were in the habit of 
drinking their penny pots of beer, and the stone to which they fast¬ 
ened their horses hence received the name, which it still bears, of 
Penny Stone ; it is now covered with venerable sea-weed, and is 
really an antique.” 

Sea-calfs, or common seals, phoca vitulina; and the porpesse 
or porpoise, phocaena, are often seen, during rough and windy 
weather, in the sea at Blackpool. 

In 1798, the orca, a large ravenous fish; and the belugas, 
were seen off Bossal. 

The gamarrus, cancer crangon, or cancer squilla—common 
shrimp—is very prolific here; many persons get a livelihood by 
procuring this little animal for the breakfast table, and for potting, 
as it is termed, in order that they may be sent off to the inland 
towns, as a luxury for gastronomers. 



HISTORY OF 




BOTANY 


“ Soft roll your incense, herbs, and fruits and flowers. 

In mingled clouds to Him ; whose sun exalts. 

Whose breath perfumes you, and whose pencil paints.” 

Botany (from a Greek word, signifying a herb or plant) formely 
implied a knowledge of the nature, rise, and cultivation of plants; 
but, as a modern science, botany chiefly applies to the classification 
of plants, or that systematic arrangement by which, from general 
marks, or characters, the botanist is enabled, first to trace the 
class, next the order, then the genus, and last of all the species to 
which any plant he meets with belongs. The system invented by 
Linnaeus is the simplest, and the most decisive. 

Sowerby’s Botany, coloured, in 8vo, is an invaluable work, 
fitting for the library of any lady or gentleman. 

Smith’s Flora, in four volumes; and Jackson Flooker’s British 
Flora, in one volume, we highly recommend. 

Large Flower. —Sir Stamford Raffles, in describing a jour¬ 
ney beyond Bencoolen, says:—“ The most important discovery 
was a gigantic flower, of which I can hardly attempt to give any 
thing like a just description: it is perhaps the largest and most 
magnificent flower in the world; and is so distinct from every 
other, that I know not to what I can compare it. Its dimensions 
will astonish you—it measured across, from the extremity of the 
petals, rather more than a yard; the nectarium was nine inches 
wide, and as deep—estimated to contain a gallon and a half of 
water; and the whole weight of the flower, fifteen'pounds!” 

But the whole vegetable part of the creation is here on a magni¬ 
ficent scale. Sir Stamford further states:—“ There is nothina: 
more striking in the Malayan forests than the grandeur of the vege¬ 
tation : the magnitude of the flowers, creepers, and trees, contrasts 
strikingly with the stunted, and, 1 had almost said, pigmy vegeta¬ 
tion of England. Compared with our forest trees, your largest 
oak is a mere dwarf. Here we have creepers and vines entwining 
larger trees, and hanging suspended for more than a hundred feet, 
in girth not less than a man’s body, and many much thicker; the 









BLACKPOOL. 


37 


trees seldom under a hundred, and generally approaching a hun¬ 
dred and sixty to two hundred feet in height. One tree which we 
measured was, in circumference, nine yards ! and this is nothing 
to one I measured in Java.” 

The Talipot of the East. —This beautiful palm tree, which 
grows in the forests, may be classed among the loftiest trees, and 
becomes still higher when on the point of bursting forth from its 
leafy summit. The sheath which then envelopes the flower is very 
large, and, when it bursts, makes an explosion like the report of 
a cannon. 

The Oriental Plant, Kerzereh. —It is commonly said 
in Persia, that if a man breathe in the hot south wind, which in 
June and July passes over that beautiful variegated flower, it will 
kill him. 


“-Who can paint 

Like nature ? Can imagination boast 
Amid its gay creation, hues like hers? 

Or can it mix them with that matchless skill, 
And lose them in each other, as appears 
In every bud that blows V’ 


VEGETABLES IMPOETED. 

We blush to think that this fine country of ours produces not one 
useful vegetable, which it can call indigenous. We have imported 
every thing of the kind, from the luxurious pine down to the hum¬ 
ble and useful potato. The following list of the earth’s production, 
with the countries from which they originally came, may, perhaps, 
be new and interesting to such of our readers as have not considered 
the subject. 

Rye and wheat were first imported from Tartary and Siberia; 
where they are yet indigenous. Barley and oats from India—they 
are not indigenous in Britain, because we are obliged to cultivate 
them. Asparagus, from Asia—anise and parsley, Egypt—borage, 
Syria—buck wheat, Asia—cresses, Crete—cauliflower, Cyprus— 
chervil, Italy—cabbage and lettuce, Holland—fennel, Canary 
Islands—garlick, the East—gourds, Astrachan—horse radish, 
China—kidney beans, East Indies—lentil, France—potato, Bra¬ 
zil—rice, Ethiopia—shalot, Siberia—tobacco, America. 

The solanum tuberose of botanists, or potato, also grows wild in 
the environs of Lima in Peru, and fourteen leagues from Lima, on 





38 


HISTORY OF 


the coast: it has been foniid in a wild state in Chili, It is culti¬ 
vated by the Indians of both countries, who call it pajjas. It 
grows spontaneously among the rocks and dry light soil at Monte 
Video, and in the forests near Santa fe de Bogata: the wild plants, 
however, produce only very small roots of a bitter taste. 

l\Ir. Knight, the distinguished member of the horticultural soci¬ 
ety, has written largely upon the culture and growth of the potato 
root. We find that in the year 1830—from the Journal of the 
Arts and Sciences—that Messrs. Schied and Dieppe, in a letter to 
Baron Humboldt, giving an account of their ascent of the great 
volcano of Orizaba, in Mexico, mention that they found the potato 
in a wild state, at the height of ten thousand feet above the level of 
the sea. It was about three inches and a half in height, w ilh large 
blue flowers ; the potatoes were about the size of a hazel nut. 

The list of vegetables given above, is only by w^ay of sample;— 
if w^e were to give an ample account of all our vegetables, Ac., 
many pages would not suffice, in order to state the countries from 
whence they were imported. 

Nor are we less indebted to other and distant countries for our 
finest flowers. The jessamine came from the East Indies—the 
tulip from Cappadocia—the daffodil from Italy—the lily from 
Syria—the tuberose from Java—the carnation and pink from Italy 
’—the elder tree from Persia. We might go on; but enough is 
given to show, that our florists may thank other countries for what 
they possess in their gardens and hot-houses. For other matter 
relative to flow^ers, consult Curtis’s Botany, m ith colored plates. 

The Passion Flo^yer. —This plant w as originally discovered 
by the Spaniards in America, and was called by them “ Grandilla,” 
because it bore so near a resemblance to the pomegranate ; but on 
its appearance in Italy, religion descried in the configuration of 
the different parts, a mysterious representation of the passion of 
Christ; the leaf was, therefore, expounded to be the spear, w hich 
pierced his sacred side—the twined threads of red and w hite, which 
form the crown of the flower, are the lashes of the wdiip, tinged 
with gutte de sang—the five encircling stamens, the crown of thorns 
—the column in the centre of the flower, a miniature of that which 
served in the flagellation—the three clavate stigmas, the three nails 
used in the crucifixion, and hence the title—“ Fior della passione,” 
or “ Flos passionis,” and by Linne, “ Pavssifloras.” 

Upwards of thirty species now exist in this country. It has 
been brought to great perfection in the gardens of the Earl of d'an- 







BLACKPOOL. 


39 


Iverville : the Liverpool botanic gardens boast now of some inagni- 
cent specimens, particularly of the following:—Alata, Laurifolia, 
Quadrangularis, Glauca, and Heterpliylla; they all require a high 
temperature, except the Cerulea, which flowers in sheltered situa¬ 
tions in the open air; but is much inferior in beauty to many of the 
species. The Incarnata has latterly been cultivated on account of 
its fruit, which is the size of a pigeon’s egg, of a damascene colour; 
a peculiar care is taken of it, and has been deemed a rare and pro¬ 
found secret until of late; and, indeed, many gardeners afl’ect a 
great air of mystery in this particular; and, after all, it is prized 
more for its rarity than its excellence; it is only grown for its 
fruit; the flavour partakes both of the melon and the strawberry. 

OKTGIX OF FRUITS, Ac. IN ENGLAND. 

“ See various trees their various fruits produce, 

Some for delightful taste, and some for use; 

See sprouting plants enrich the plain and wood, 

For physic some, and some design’d for food ; 

See fragrant flowers, with difl'erent colours dy’d, 

On smiling meads unfold their gaudy pride.” 

In the reign of Elizabeth, Edmund Grindall, afterwards arch¬ 
bishop of Canterbury, transplanted here the tamarisk. Oranges 
were brought here by one of the Carew family. To Sir Walter 
Raleigh we are indebted for that useful root, the potato. Sir 
Anthony Ashley first planted cabbages in this country. The fig 
trees planted by Cardinal Pole, in the reign of Henry VIII. are 
still standing at Lambeth. Sir Richard Weston first brought clo¬ 
ver grass into England in 1045. The mulberry is a native of Per¬ 
sia, and is said to have been introduced in 1570. The almond was 
introduced in 1570, and came from the East. The chesnut is a 
native of the South of Europe. The walnut is a native of Persia, 
but the time of its introduction is unknown. The apricot came from 
America about 1502. The plum is a native of Asia, and w^as im¬ 
ported in Europe by the Crusaders; and the damascene takes its 
name from the city of Damascus. The alpine strawberry was first 
cultivated in the king’s garden in 1700. The peach is a native of 
Persia. The nectarine was first introduced about 1502. Cherries 
are said to have come originally from Cerasus, a city of Cappadocia, 
from whence Lucullus brought them into Italy, and they were in¬ 
troduced into Britain about the year 5.0. It appears that they were 


40 


HISTORY OF 


commonly sold in tlie streets in the time of Lydgate, who mentions 
them in his poem called Lickpenny. 

“ Hot pescode own began to cry, 

Strawbcrys rype, and cherys in the ryse.” 

Filberts were so named from Phillipert, king of France. The 
quince called Cydonia, from Cydon, was cultivated in this country 
in Gerard’s time. The red queen-apple was so called in compli¬ 
ment to queen Elizabeth. The cultivation of the pear is of great 
antiquity, for Pliny mentions twenty dilferent kinds’. Most of our 
apples came originally from France, see Falkner’s History of Ken¬ 
sington. Miller mentions eighty-four species of pear, whose names 
are all enumerated in his Gardener’s Dictionary, a work of great 
celebrity, and may be said to have laid the foundation of all the 
horticultural taste and knowledge in England. To the afHictions 
and exiles of Charles we are indebted for many of our best vege¬ 
tables, which were introduced by his followers from the continent; 
thus, by the industry of man, are the gifts of the earth transplanted 
from clime to clime. 

‘‘ See how the rising fruits the gardens crowm. 

Imbibe the sun, and make his light their own." 

A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS. 

We copy the following interesting little article from an American 
paper, the editor of which has omitted to state whether it is original 
or selected. 

“ From an elegant bouquet, I selected a carnation, the fragrance 
of which led me to enjoy it frequently and near. The sense of 
smelling was not the only one afi’ected on these occasions; while 
that was satisfied with the powerful sweet, the ear was constantly 
attracted by an extremely soft but agreeable murmuring sound. 
It was easy to know that some animal within the covert must be 
the musician, and that the noise must come from some little crea¬ 
ture suited to produce it. I instantly distended the lower part of 
the flower, and placing it in full light, could discover troops of little 
insects frisking in wild jollity among the narrow pedestals that sup¬ 
ported its leaves, and the little threads that occupied its centre. 

“ What a fragrant w orld for their habitation ! what a perfect 
security from all annoyance in the dusky husk that surrounded the 
scene of action ! Adapting a microscope to take in at one view the 









BLACKPOOL. 


41 


whole base of the flower, 1 gave myself an opportunity of contem¬ 
plating what they were about, for many days together, and this 
without giving them the least disturbance. Thus I could discover 
their economy, their passions and their enjoyments. The micros¬ 
cope on this occasion had given what nature seemed to have denied 
to the objects of contemplation. 

“ The base of the flower extended itself, under its influence, to 
a vast plain; the slender stems of the leaves became trunks of so 
many stately cedars; the threads in the middle seemed columns of 
a massy structure, supporting at the top their several ornaments; 
and the narrow spaces between were enlarged into walks, parterres, 
and terraces. On the polished bottom of these, brighter than Pa¬ 
rian marble, walked in pairs, alone, or in larger companies, the 
winged inhabitants; these, from little dusky flies, for such only the 
naked eye could have shown them, were there raised to glorious 
glittering animals, stained with living purple, and with a glossy 
gold, that would have made all the labours of the loom contempti¬ 
ble in the comparison. I could at leisure, as they walked together, 
admire their elegant limbs, their velvet shoulders, and their silken 
wings; their backs vieing with the empyrean in its blue ; and their 
eyes each formed of a thousand other colours, out-glittering the 
little planets, and brilliant above description, and almost too great 
for admiration. I could observe them here singling out their favo¬ 
rite females, courting them with the music of their buzzing wings, 
with little songs formed for their little organs, leading them from 
walk to walk, among the perfumed shades, and pointing out to their 
taste the drop of liquid nectar just bursting from some vein within 
the living trunk. Here were the perfumed groves, the more than 
myrtle shades of the poet’s fancy realized. Here the happy lovers 
spent their days in joyful dalliance, or, in the triumphs of their little 
hearts, skipped after one another from stem to stem, among the 
painted trees, or winged their short flight to the close shadow of 
some broader leaf, to revel, undisturbed, in the heights of all 
felicity.” 

PLANTS 

FOUND IN THE VICINITY OF BLACKPOOL. 

The following plants were found at Blackpool in the year 1793 : 

Neptune’s sea-beard, sea heath, sea-bladder, clubmoss, agarics, 
three sorts; sea-horsetail, sea-fans, two sorts; narrow-leaved sea- 

F 


42 


HISTORY OF 


wrack, water crowfoot with ivy leaves, maidenhair (black) grass- 
wrack, warted sea-wrack, cut-leaved lentil.”— Bentley’s Diary. 

Apargia hispidum, rough dandelion—Apargia autumnalis, au¬ 
tumnal dandelion—Agaricus campestris, common mushroom— 
Agaricus proceris, white mushroom—Arum maeulatum, wake- 
robin, vel, cuckow pint—Arundo phagmites, common reed—Api- 
um graveolus, common smallage—Apium petroselinum, kitchen 
smallage or parsley—Asplenium ruta muriaria, white maidenhair—- 
Asplenium nigra, black maidenhair or wall rue—A nagallis arvensis, 
scarlet pimpernel—A nagallis tenella, bog pimpernel—Arundo aren- 
aria, sea matweed—Andromeda polifolia, marsh rosemary—Asple¬ 
nium scholopendrium, hartstongue—Aconitum authora, large wolfs¬ 
bane—Aconitum lycoctonum, yellow wolfsbane—Antiihinum pur- 
pureum, great snapdragon—Agrostemma githago, corn campion— 
Agrostemma coronaria, batchelor’s button—Agrimonia eupatoria, 
agrimony—Alismo plantago, great water plantain—Arctium lappa, 
common burdock—Artemisia vulgaris, mugwort—Asphodelus Lan- 
castriensis, Lancashire asphodel or day lily—Ajuga reptans, com¬ 
mon bugle—Aquilegia vulgaris, columbine—Aquilegia atro purpu¬ 
rea, dark'columbine—Asphodelus lutens, yellow asphodel—Aspho¬ 
delus racemosus, king’s spear—Asara europeum, asarabacca—■ 
Aconitum napellus, monkshood—Amara dulcis, bitter-sweet- - 
Achillea ptarmica, yarrow—Aethusa cynapium, fool’s parsley- - 
Antirhinum peloria, spurious toad flax—Anethum feniculum, 
fennel—Allium porrum, garlic, cives, or wild onions. 

Brium hornum, early moss—Brassica oleracea, cabbage—Bras- 
sica rapa, turnip—Buttomus umbellatus, flowering rush—Betonica 
officinalis, wood betony—Berberis vulgaris, barberry—Beilis peren- 
uis, common daisy—Bartisia viscosa, marsh eyebright. 

Carline vulgaris, carline thistle—Chlora perfoliata, yellow cen- 
tuary—Comarum palustre, marsh cinquefoil—Clematis vitalba, 
traveller’s joy—Caltha palustris, marsh marigold—Cardius lanceo- 
latus, spear thistle—Cardius marianus, ladies’ milk thistle—Cnicus 
aster, starwort thistle—Cnicus palustris, common flower thistle— 
Cnicus arvensis, field thistle—Convolvulus soldanella, sea bind¬ 
weed—Cherophyllum sylvestre, chervils—Convallaria polygona- 
tum, Solomon’s seal—Chelidonum majus, celandine—Campanula 
patella—spreading bell-flower—Circea apinae, enchanter’s night 
shade—Corylus avellana, hazel nut—Crambe maritima, sea kale— 
Crithmummaritimum, rock samphire—Campanula glomerata, bell 
flower—Cardamine pratensis, ladysmock—Centuarea scabiosa. 










BLACKPOOL. 


43 


gteat knapweed—Cineraria palustris, jagged Ileabane—Cochlearia 
clarica, sea scurvy grass—Cochlearia arinoracia, horse radish— 
Cynoglossiim omphalodes, blue navelwort—Cardamine auricomus, 
bitter ladysmock—Centuarea chironea, red centuary—Cent urea 
cyanus, blue-bottle— Campanula medium, Canterbury bells—Cam¬ 
panula rotundifolia, harvest bells—Calendula arvensis, marsh or 
corn marigold—Convolvulus sepiam, hedge bind-weed. 

Digitalis purpurea, purple foxglove—Delphinum consolida, field 
larkspur—Daphne mezereon, flowering spurge—Dianthus deltoides, 
maiden pink—Daucus arvensis, wild carrot—Daucas carota, com¬ 
mon garden carrot. 

Dryngium maritimum, sea holly—Erysemum officinale, common 
hedge mustard—Euphrasia officinalis, eyebright—Echiniphoraspi- 
nosa, prickly samphire—Eriphorum vaginatum, harestail rush— 
Echinum vulgare, viper’s bugloss—Erica tetralix, cross-leaved 
heath—Euphorbia paraiia, sea spurge—Equisetum palustre, marsh 
horsetail—Erigeron acre, blue fleabane—Eriphorurii polystachion, 
cotton grass—Fucus fiborous, fibrous fucus—Ficaria verna, pile- 
wort—Eumaria officinalis, fumitory—Fucus saccharinnusor, sword 
shaped sea-weed—Fragaria vesca, strawberry. 

Geum rivale, water avpns—Geranium molle, soft cranesbill— 
Galeopsis tetrahit, hemp nettle—Galeopsis laudanum, red hemp 
nettle—Geranium sanguenum, bloody cranesbill—Geranium pur¬ 
purea, odoriferous cranesbill—Glechoma hederacea, groundivy or 
alehoof—Gladiolus imbricatus, corn flag or segetus—Glycera rigi- 
da, hard meadow grass—Gentiana centuarium, lesser centuary— 
Geranium pratense, cornfoot cranesbill—Gallium cruciatim, cross¬ 
wort. 

Flieracium umbellatum, umbelied hawkweed—Hieracium pile- 
osella, mouse ear—Heleborus niger, black helebore—Hypericum 
pulcrum, common St. John’s wort—Flydroctyle vulgaris, marsh 
penny wort—tleraclium sphondylium, hog weed Hiedera helix, 
common ivy—H.ippurus vulgaris, common marestail Hordeum 
distichon, barley. 

Iris squalens, brown iris or flag—Inula hellinneum, elecampane 
_Inula dysenterica, common fleabane—Juncus campestris, field 

rush. 

Lycoperdium bovista, puff ball—Lychnis diocir, red campion— 
Lamium purpurea et album, red and white archangel or dee nettle 
—Lythrum salicaria, loose strife—Lychnis flos cuculi, ragged 
robin or cuckow flower—Lupinus flavis, yellow lupin—Limum 


44 


HISTORY OF 


catharticum, purging flax—Lonicera capritolium, woodbine or 
honeysuckle—Lathyrus palustris, marsh chicken vetch— Lathyriis 
odoratus, sweet pea—Lunarius annua, honesty moonwort—Leon- 
todon taraxacum, dandelion—Lonicera periciemenuin, pretty piped 
woodbine—Lysimachia teneila, purple moneywort—Lycopodium 
selago, firclubmoss. 

Mercurialis perennis, dog’s mercury—Mentha palustris, marsh 
flowering mint—Matricaria chamomilla, held chamomile — Malvus 
arvensis, marsh mallow—Mentha villosa, horse mint—Myricaodo- 
rata, sweet gale—Mentha viridis, common green spear mint. 

Nasturtium amphibium, amphibious water cress—Nepeta cata- 
ria, cat mint—Narcissus pseudo narcissus, vernal dafTodil — Nar¬ 
cissus biflora, peerless primrose. 

Oxalistubiflora, trumpet flowered wood sorrel—Ononis arvensis, 
rest harrow—Orobus tuberosus, heath pea—Orchis mascula, male 
orchis—Orchis latifolia, marsh orchis—Osmunda lunaria, moon- 
wort fern—Osmunda regalis, great fern or royal moonwort. 

Polypodium filix femina, female polypody—Pedicularis palus¬ 
tris, marsh meadow rattle—Parietaria officinalis, pellitory of the 
wall—Polytricum commune, goldilocks—Polygala vulgaris, milk¬ 
wort—Pyrethrum indorum, scentless feverfew—Papaver rhaes, corn 
rose-—Potamogeton setaceum, staceous pondweed—Potamogeton 
fluitans, floating pond-weed—^Polypodium dryopterous, branched 
polypody—Potentilla verna, spring cinquefoil—Pulraonaria mari- 
tima, sea bugloss—Pulmonaria officinalis, lungv/ort—Pyrola rotun- 
difolia, water violet—Phallus esculentis, egg-shaped morell —Pa¬ 
paver somniferum, white poppy—Prunus insititia, bullace plum 
tree—Prunus spinosa, sloe tree—Pteris aquilinia, brake—Pyrolia 
peerless, pear-leaved winter-green—Primula rubra, red primrose — 
Primula veris, cowslip or pagel—Pseudacoris, yellow flag iris— 
Pedicularis sylvatica, dwarf red rattle—Phleum pratense, cat’s tail 
gTass—Potentilla repens, creeping cinquefoil—Perennis arvensis, 
peerless field daisy—Potentilla argemone, early red poppy—Pa¬ 
paver rhaeus, corn red poppy—Paeonia alba, white piony. 

Piimex sanguineus, red veined dock—liosa solis, perennial sun 
dew—lianunculus sceleratus, water crowfoot—Panunculus hirsu- 
tus, rough crowfoot—Ranunculus aeris, buttercups or may flow ers 
— Rosae arvensis, dog rose—Rhinanthus cristi galli, yellow rattle 
—Rosae eglantaria, sweetbriar—Rumex crispus, curled dock— 
Rumex aquaticus, great water dock—Ranunculus bulbosa, larger 
crowfoot—Rubris fructicosa, blackberry. 


BLACKPOOL. 


45 


Semperviviim tectorum, houseleek—Sedum anglicanum, English 
stonecrop—Sedum telephium, orpine—Stellaria nemonim, larger 
stitcliwort or liolostea—Stellaria graminea, lesser stitchwort—Son- 
chus oieraceus, common sow thistle—Sonchus barbata, blue sow 
thistle -- Silene maritima, sea campion—Silene purpurea, bright red 
campion—Senecio vulgaris, common groundsel—Senecio aquaticus, 
marsh groundsel—Stachys palustris, hedge nettle—Salva officina¬ 
lis, common sage—Spirea ulmaria, meadow sweet—Senecio sqa- 
lidus, stinking groundsel—Senecio jacobea, ragweed—Sanguisorba 
officinalis, burnet saxifrage—Saponiana officinalis, soapwort—Se¬ 
necio crucifolis, hoary groundsel—Senecio doronicum, mountain 
groundsel—Sysimbrium raentha, water mint—Spirea vulgaria, 
double meadow-sweet—Samolus valerandi, water pimpernel— 
Sinapis arvensis, kidiock, charlock, or field mustard — Scabioso 
arvensis, corn scabious— Solidago virgaurea, golden rod—Solidago 
procera, tall golden rod—Scabiosa succisa, devilsbit scabious—• 
Silene viscosa, clammy catchfly, also, the stellata and elites— 
Scorpio palustris, scorpion grass—Sambrias nigra, elder tree— 
Syraphetum asperimum, rough comfrey—Symphetum tuberosum, 
common comfrey—Satyrion hircinum, lizard orchis—Schrophu- 
laria aquatica, water figwort—Stachys sylvatica, hedge woundwort 
—Sisimbrium nasturtium, common watercress—Salsola barbata, 
prickly saltwort—Scilla non scripta, harebells or hyacinths— 
Spartium scoparium, common broom—Solanum tuberose, common 
potato. 

Trifolium arvensis, haresfoot trefoil—Trifolium repens, yellow 
trefoil or shamrock Tanacetum vulgare, common tansey—Triglo- 
cbin palustre, marsh arrow grass—Tropogan porrifolium, purple 
goatsbeard—Thymus agrestis, wild thyme—Trifolium reptans, 
ladies’ fingers or white trefoil—Tuber cibarium, the truffel—Triti- 
cum hybernum, wheat. 

Ulva florescens, yellowish liverwort—XJlex europeas, erica, gorse 
or furze—Urtica diocia, common nettle—Urtica urens, hedge 
nettle. 

Verbascum thapsis, garden mullein—Veronica agrestis, field 
speedwell—Veronica chamoedris, germander speedw'ell—Vinca 
minor, lesser periwinkle—Viola tricolor, heartsease or pansy— 
Valanta cruciata, beautiful crosswort—Violet odorata, sweet violet 
—Vicia sativa, vetches—Vicia faba, field or horse beans. 


40 


HISTORY OF 


MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 


Observations on the migration of Birds that frequent the sea 
shore, marshes, and hedges, near Blackpool. 


Names. 

First seen. 

Last seen. 

Where bred. 

Wild goose, grey legged. 

Oct. 6. 

Feb. 10. 

Fludson’s Bay. 

Ditto, small. 

Nov. 10. 

Jan. 29. 

Ditto. 

Ditto, Brent, 

Dec. 18. 

Feb. 3. 

Ditto. 

Duck and Mallard, 

all the year at sea 

by day; return to 

land about an hour after sun-set. 


Shell Duck, 

Do. at the mouth of fresh water creeks. 

Teal, 

Oct. 20. 

Mar. 0. 

Ireland. 

Pocher, red head. 

Nov. 19. 

Mar. 3. 

Ditto. 

Ditto, golden eye’d. 

Nov. 20. 

Feb. 10. 

Ditto. 

Ditto, tiiff’d. 

Dec. 15. 

Jan. 19. 

Orkney Isles. 

Ditto, long tail. 

Dec. 20. 

Jan. 14. 

Ditto. 

Ditto, ball head, 

Dec. 20. 

Jan. 19. 

Ditto. 

Goosander, grey. 

Dec. 18. 

Feb. 4. 

Ireland. 

Ditto, orange breast. 

Dec. 23. 

Jan. 20. 

Ditto. 

Coote. 

all the year in fresh water rivers. 

Water Hen, 

Ditto, 


In ponds. 

Didopper, 

Nov. 10. 

Feb. 10. 

Orkney Isles. 

Heron, 

all the year 

In woods. 

Cirlievv, sea, 

Sept. 4. 

Feb. 0. 

Ireland. 

Ditto, land, 

July 14. 

May 0. 

Ditto. 

Ditto, jack. 

Sept. 3. 

Nov. 10. 

Ditto. 

Redshank, 

Apr. 10. 

Oct. 29. 

On the salt marsh. 

Sea Pie, 

all the year, 

On the beach. 

Plover, green. 

Feb. 27. 

Dec. 3. 

Salt marshes. 

Ditto, grey, 

Aug. 20. 

Dec, 1. 

On the beach. 

Ditto, golden. 

Nov. 5. 

Feb. 0. 

Ireland. 

Knot, 

Aug. 28. 

Feb. 3. 

On the beach. 

Snipe, common. 

Sept. 1. 

Mar. 0. 

In low marshes. 

Ditto, jack. 

Sept. 10. 

Mar. 0. 

Ireland. 

Ditto, black, 

May 0. 

Oct. 14. 

In our marshes. 

Stint, 

all the year, 

On the beach. 

Cormorant, 

Oct. 0. 

April 4. 

Orkney Isles. 

Loine, 

July 29. 

Oct. 10 

Ditto. 



Bl/ACKPOOL. 

47 

Names. 

First seen. Last seen. 

Where bred. 

Grey Gull, 

Aug. 4. April 10. 

Beach. 

Blue Gull, 

Aug. 4. April 10. 

Ditto. 

Common Sea Mew, 

all the year. 

On the salt marsh. 

Black Cap Ditto. 

Sept. 3. Dec. 4. 

On rocks. 

Red legged Ditto, 

Mar. 4. Aug. 12. 

On the beach. 

King Fisher, 

all the year. 

with us. 

Royston Crow, 

Oct. 3. Mar. 22. 

Norway. 

Norway Spinks, 

Dec. 18. Jan. 20. 

Ditto. 

Larks, 

all the year. 

with us. 

Marsh Linnets, 

do. 

do. 

Buzzard Hawk, 

do. 

do. 

Common Hawk, 

do. 

do. 

Grey Owl, 

do. 

do. 

Barn Owl, 

do. 

do. 

Rooks, 

do. 

do. 

Crow, 

do. 

do. 

Jack Daw, 

^ do. 

do. 

Raven, 

do. 

do. 

Pigeon, wood. 

do. 

do. 

Ditto, blue. 

do. 

do. 

Ring Dove, 

do. 

do. 

Starling, 

do. 

do. 

Fieldfare, 

Nov. 10. Feb. G. 

do. 

Thrush, 

all the year, 

do. 

Swallow, 

April 18. Oct. 31. 

do. 

Marten, 

May 4. Oct. 16. 

do. 

Sand Marten, 

May 29. Sept. 6. 

do. 

Swift, 

May 29. Sept. 3. 

do. 

Goatsucker, 

Sept. 7. Sept. 27. 

do. 

Wryneck, 

April 26. Sept. 10. 

do. 

Cuckoo, 

May 1. July 10. 

do. 

Nightingale, 

April 25. Sept. 20. 

do. 

White-throat, 

April 22. Sept. 26. 

do. 

Wheatear, 

May 4. Sept. 26. 

do. 

Whinchat, 

June 1. Sept. 21. 

do. 

Willow Wren, 

April 23. Sept. 24. 

do. 

Land-rail, 

Sept. 1. Oct. 20. 

do. 

Woodcock, 

Oct. 20. April 1. 

do. 

Quail, 

Aug. 20. Oct. 7. 

do. 

Avosset, 

Aug. 12. Oct. 1. 

Norway. 


48 


HISTORY OF 


We recommend to the Naturalist Swainson’s Naturalist’s 
Guide, and Zoological Illustrations;” also, the “ Zoological Jour¬ 
nalLewin’s British Birds;” and Bingley’s Book of Useful 
Knowledge; ‘‘Pocket Encyclopaedia for Husbandmen and Ma¬ 
riners, containing a list of the Birds of Europe : London, 1827 
“ Temmincks on Ornithology, colored plates, printed at Amster¬ 
dam;” and “ Forster on the Genus Hirundo.” 

It may not be unworthy of remark to add, that the wild fowl are 
taken upon these shores by means of stratagem. The sportsman 
digs a hole in the sands to conceal himself, some distance from low 
water mark, and where the tide- is the longest to overflow; thus 
concealed, as the tide rises, the fowl runs upon the sands, or swims 
in the creeks within gun shot; and with a good fowling-piece, the 
sportsman seldom fails to make a good day’s work. Wild fowl 
are mostly found in large flocks. 

Wild geese are generally shot in the month of October. The 
sportman conceals himself, as before observed, in the fresh river, 
at Nese Point, near Frecletoii, where the geese first alight on 
the sands, then go to the river to wash and drink, before they fly 
to the more remote sands for repose; thus they fall victims to the 
calls of nature: they return in an afternoon from the corn fields 
about four o’clock, as regular as an army; and fly in a morning, 
about seven o’clock, with the same precision. But the greater 
quantity of fowl are shot by persons having a small boat, with a 
long gun, such as are used in the fens of Lincolnshire. Of the 
quantity killed by this method, many persons have taken at one 
shot, upwards of three dozen birds; and it has been frequently the 
case to kill two dozen duck and mallard at one shot, by means of 
the gun mentioned above. Beckoning the duck and mallard at 
two shillings and sixpence per pair, a man gets thirty shillings 
at one shot; upon an average they calculate three shots per week 
good work; but it must be observed, they often shoot at small 
flocks, and some seasons are very poor ones for aquatic birds;— 
it may happen, and sometimes does, that they do not get one shot 
in a fortnight. It may be fairly stated, that an industrious, dis¬ 
cerning and keen sportsman may earn thirty shillings per week at 
this work. We know it is the custom in North Meols to set pant- 
lers for the birds—great quantities are brought to Preston for sale. 
Even in the vicinity of Longton and Hoole, many birds are caught 
by the same means. Mr. Riddiough of Ormskirk, posseses a variety 
of birds in a good state of preservation. The Preston Institution, 


BLACKPOOL. 


49 


it is expected, will, in no short period, have to boast of having a 
good collection of preserved birds. We expect that the hints given 
by Mr. Waterton, (the famous traveller in South America,) in his 
lecture at Leeds on the preservation of birds will not be overlooked.* 

THE SWALLOW. 

“ Sweet birds, that breathe the spirit of song, 

And surround heaven’s gate in melodious throng. 

Who rise with the earliest beams of day. 

Your morning tribute of thanks to pay. 

You remind us that we alike should raise 
The voice of devotion and song of praise ; 

There’s something about you that points on high. 

Ye beautiful tenants of earth and sky.” 

The swallow is one of my favorite birds, and a rival of the 
nightingale; for he glads my sense of seeing as much as the other 
does my sense of hearing. He is the joyous prophet of the year— 
the harbinger of the best season;—he lives a life of enjoyment 
amongst the loveliest forms of nature : winter is unknown to him ; 
and he leaves the green meadows in England in autumn, for the 
myrtle and orange groves in Italy, and for the palms of Africa: 
he has always objects of pursuit, and his success is secure. Even 
the beings selected for his prey are poetical, beautiful, and transient. 
The ephemera are saved by his means from a slow and lingering 
death in the evening, and killed in a moment, when they have 
known nothing of life but pleasure. He is the constant destroyer 
of insects—the friend of man; and with the stork and the ibis, 
may be regarded as a sacred bird. His instinct, which gives him 
appointed seasons, and which teaches him always when and where 
to move, may be regarded as flowing from a Divine source; and 
he belongs to the oracles of nature, which speaks the awful and 
intelligible language of a present Deity.’’— Salmonia. 

* There is a work of great value to lovers of Natural History, in French 
and English, at the Shepherd’s Library, in Preston ; entitled—“ Edwards’s 
Natural History of Quadrupeds, Birds, &c.; printed for the Author in 1715 ; 
colored plates.” 


G 


HISTORY OF 




POULTOX: 

THREE AND A HALF MILES FROM BLACKPOOL. 


“ Yon peasant’s cot that lends an humble charm, 

The active mill—the ciiltivated farm; 

The ship that cuts the wave with dauntless prore, 

And wafts us wealth from many a distant shore ; 

The steam boat, bathing in the foam her sides, 

That triumphs o’er contending Avinds and tides ; 

Swift as the swallow skims the nether sky.” 

PoULTON in the Fylde, a market towm and parish, in the hundred 
and deanery of Amounderness, and in the archdeaconry of Ilich- 
mond, 234 miles from London, 48 from Liverpool and Manchester, 
17 from Preston, and 8 from Kirkham ; is a small port,* under 
Preston, and one of great antiquity. 

The church, dedicated to St. Chad, is erected upon the site of 
the old edifice, which having stood nearly seven hundred years, 
was taken down in 1751. The living is a discharged vicarage, 
valued in the King’s books at seven pounds sixteen shillings and 
eight-pence. Patron, P. Hesketh, Armiger. Here are three free 
schools. The other places of worship are for the Independents, 
Wesleyan Methodists, Roman Catholics, and Quakers, each of 
which have a place of worship. 

This place is much frequented by visitors from Blackpool in the 
bathing season; and its real population is upon the increase;— 
in 1821, four thousand and thirty-one persons were in the whole 
parish, of which number one thousand and eleven belonged to the 
township of Poulton. 

This is a neat and clean town, and forms a place of recreation 
for those who visit Blackpool. Good accommodations are to be 

* Comparative wages of public servants in the Customs.—“We find that 
William Jennings, collector of the Customs at Poulton, in the Fylde, re¬ 
ceived in the reign of Queen Anne, 1708, for his yearly services, thirty 
pounds per annum ; and that five subordinate officers had seventy-five pounds 
equally divided amongst them.”— Magna Britt : Notitia. Such a collector 
now receives no less than four hundred pounds per annum, and such inferior 
officers about one hundred and fifty pounds each. 


BLACKPOOL. 


51 


had at Smith’s the Black Bull, and the other inns; which are 
equally respectable. 

It may be said of Poulton and its vicinity, as an agricultuial 
country— 

Ye generous Britons, venerate tlie plough; 

And o’er your hills and long withtfiawing vales, 

Let autumn spread his treasures to the sun. 

Luxuriant and unbounded !—As the sea 
Far through his azure turbulent domain 
Your empire owns, and from a thousand shores 
W afts all the pomp of life into your ports; 

So with superior boon may your rich soil. 

Exuberant, nature’s better blessings pour 
O’er ev’ry land, the naked nations clothe. 

And be th’ exhaustless granary of the world.” 


FYLDE. 

The Fylde is a large district, comprehending one-third, at least, 
of the hundred of Amounderness ; and a line passed from Freckle- 
ton on the north bank of the Kibble, to Cockerham, a little to the 
south of the Lune, would place the whole district to the west of 
that line. This tract is a champaigne country, inclined to peat 
moss, but yielding excellent crops of wheat, and other kind of 
grain. 

The derivation of the word Fylde signifies Field-land—hence the 
Cornfield of Amounderness.* The saline particles or muriate of 

* The agriculture of England is confessedly superior to that of any other 
part of the world, and the condition of those who are engaged in the cultiva¬ 
tion of the soil, incontestably preferable to that of the same class in any other 
section in Europe. An inexhaustible source of admiration and delight is 
found in the unrivalled beauty, as well as richness and fruitfulness of their 
husbandry —the effects of which are heightened by the magnificent parks and 
noble mansions of the opulent proprietors : by picturesque gardens upon the 
largest scale, and disposed with the most exquisite taste ; and by gothic re¬ 
mains, no less admirable in their structure than venerable for their antiquity. 
The neat cottage—the substantial farm-house—the splendid villa, are con¬ 
stantly rising to the sight, surrounded by the most choice and poetical attri¬ 
butes of the landscape. The painter is a mere copyist. A picture of as much 
neatness, softness, and elegance is exposed to the eye, as can be given to the 
imagination by the finest etching, or the most mellowed drawing. The vision 
is not more delightfully recreated by the rural scenery, than the moral sense 
is gratified, and the understanding elevated, by the institutions of this beau¬ 
tiful country. 



52 


HISTORY OF 


sea water, with which the air is impregnated along this coast, seems 
unfavourable to the growth of timber. This is true—it is also in 
opposition to the production of vegetables—but to animal life it is 
amply favourable. 

The whole of the parishes of Lytham, Bispham, Poulton, and 
St. Michael’s, and all tiie western parts of Garstaiig and Kirkham, 
are included in, and constitute the Fylde country. This district 
of Lancashire is capable of vast improvements, arising out of the 
navigation of the rivers Kibble and ^Tyre. A canal made to pass 
from the Kibble to the vicinity of Kirkham, and from thence to 
Poulton, having a communication with the Lancaster canal at 
Salwick, would be a mine of wealth to the Fylde, and would soon 
repay the undertakers.* 

This project, or one of a similar nature, has long existed, as, in 
the original Lancaster canal act, it is recited, “ That it is the wish 
and intention of the Earl of Derby, John Clifton, Esq. and others, 
to make a navigable cut through the parishes of St. Michael’s-upon- 
Wyre, Kirkham, Lytham, Poulton, and Bispham,’’ to join the 
Lancaster canal; but though these great landed proprietors have 
the power, whenever they choose to exercise it, without any new 
application to Parliament, to make the inland navigation here sug¬ 
gested, they have not hitherto taken any efficient steps for carrying 
their wishes and intentions” into effect. 

As a preliminary measure, which would scarcely fail to make a 
rapid return of profit to the undertakers, and confer a lasting be¬ 
nefit upon the country, a canal of four miles, from Freckleton to 
Salwick, would open a communication with the inland parts of 

* Preston Port Rail-way. —A company is now formed for the purpose 
of establishing a rail-way from Preston to the coast, near Blackpool. The 
committe of Directors took a journey on Friday, October 15, 1830, to the 
mouth of the Wyre, in order to form a general idea of its practicability as a 
port, and also to form a due estimate which the country presents for the form¬ 
ation of such a project. P. Hesketli, Esq. of Rossal, and a deputation of 
gentlemen met them, and presented a written statement of the peculiar advan¬ 
tages to agriculture and commerce, which such an undertaking would bene¬ 
fit, if proceeded in with spirit and unanimity by the landowners, and tiiose 
who were friendly to such a commercial enterprise. Mr. Hesketh, in parti¬ 
cular, expressed himself so sensible of the advantage of this line to his property, 
tliat he should most willingly allow the rail-road to be carried over his land 
without any remuneration for the ground it might occupy—and, that he had 
every reason to suppose that the other considerable landowners would do the 
same. Mr. R. Arrowsmith, of Preston, was chairman at the first meeting of 
the Preston Port Rail-way Company. 


BLACKrOOL. 


63 


Laiicasliire, and serve to convey the product of Ireland, and of 
foreign countries, to Preston and other towns situate in the popu¬ 
lous parts of Amounderness. One thing, indeed, would still be 
wanting to give full effect to these expansive improvements, namely, 
to continue the navigation uninterruptedly by an aqueduct over 
the Kibble at Preston, and to discard the present rail-way. 

Another improvement would be to place the public roads of the 
Fylde on the same footing as the other principal roads of the 
country. This seems a necessary step towards the establishment 
of a regular mail-coach from Preston to Kirkham, Lytham, Black¬ 
pool, and Poulton ; iiistead of the less secure conveyance of letters 
by a post-boy. 

By the application of these simple means, the Fylde, with its 
oceaiirlike rivers and fertile soil, might be made a fine commercial 
district, and the remembrance of the time of the Romans would be 
revived, when the Neb of the Nese was the Port of Lancashire.’^ 


notitia:, 

RESPECTING EVENTS AT BLACKPOOL, Ac. 


July 19 , 1821 . —The King’s coronation was celebrated at Black¬ 
pool, in a manner most grateful to every benevolent heart. A 
handsome subscription, raised by the inhabitants and visitors of the 
place, was expended in procuring one day’s festivity for the poor 
and needy, the aged and the young.—About ten in the morning, 
the children in the township, amounting to one hundred and thirty- 
nine, assembled at the national school, where they were each pre¬ 
sented with a coronation medal, suspended from a blue or scarlet 
riband. From thence they proceeded to parade the beach; and, 
headed by two excellent musicians, gave, ‘‘ God save the King,” 
in a very simple and pleasing style, at all the principal houses, ac¬ 
companied by four cheers. Returning to the school, each child 
was regaled with a large bun and spiced ale, and some copper was 
distributed amongst them. The happy and healthy appearance of 
the children—the neatness of their dress—and the several elegant 
groups of females who attended to minister to their comforts, formed, 
altogether, a most pleasing spectacle. 

After this, upwards of thirty old people met at the school, where 
they sat down to an excellent and substantial dinner, consisting of 



64 


HISTORY OF 


roast beef and plum pudding, &c.; at the conclusion of whicli, 
they each drank the King’s health in a pint of good ale. The same 
kind females who attended upon their children and grand-child¬ 
ren, now waited on them, and were highly amused at seeing three 
old women, upwards of seventy, and who had probably danced at 
George the Third’s coronation, go through a reel in excellent style. 
The utmost order and regularity prevailed throughout the day, and 
not a whisper of disloyalty was heard. iVt the close of the day, 
the gentlemen of the place formed a party to drink his Majesty’s 
health; and passed the evening in a most comfortable and united 
manner. 

Robert Hesketh, Esq. of Rossal, distributed on this occasion to 
his work-people, sixteen barrels of good brown stout, upon the sea 
beach. This late gentleman’s residence is handsome and capacious, 
and is about five miles N. N. W. of Blackpool, on a peninsula 
formed by the Wyre water and the sea. He was High Sheriff for 
this county in the year 1820 . 

Etesian Winds. —In December 1821 , the equinoctial winds, 
blowing from a north-west point, produced a tremendous and 
formidable sea; so that many of the houses on the beach at Black¬ 
pool, were considered in danger from the rolling of the waves.— 
The property in question has been considerably endangered—so 
much so, that the sea has run at full tide through the houses, to the 
great terror of the inmates;—the cliff has been torn and carried off 
piece-meal.* 

It may be said that these winds carry ruin and desolation before 
them. They are generally preceded by a solemn stillness, and 
it is very close and misty for some time in the atmosphere. But a 

* We particularly wish to impress upon the minds of those who are the 
owners of property at Blackpool, the utility and necessity of protecting the 
beach, by every means possible, from the devastation of the sea. In the Isle 
of Sheppey, fifty aci’es of land, from sixty to eighty feet above the sea, has been 
swept away within the last twenty years. The church of Minster, now near the 
coast, is said to have been in the middle of the island only fifty years ago ; and 
it is computed that, at the present rate of destruction, the whole of the island 
will be annihilated in another half century. 

The ti'adition that the Goodwin sands were once the estates of Earl Good¬ 
win, points, no doubt, to the former existence of an island or extension of the 
coast in that direction, which, like Sheppey, in Kent, has been washed away. 
The great tidal current, and violence of the westerly swell of the Irish sea, 
aided by the north-west winds, have been tlie cause of the degradation so vi¬ 
sible to every one who visits Blackpool. 


BLACKPOOL. 


dreadful reverse takes place immediately afterwards—the sky is 
overcast and looks dreary—the sea rises all at once from a profound 
calm into mountainous waves—the wind rages and roars in a tre¬ 
mendous manner—particularly on the sea coast; and makes a 
noise as if a battle was began—similar to the roar of cannons.— 
The damage which a hurricane like this does to banks or cliffs on 
the sea shore, and to public property, is incalculable. 

Etesian, or equinoctial winds are the precise times when the sun 
enters Aries and Libra—for then, moving exactly under the equi¬ 
noctial, he makes days and nights equal. It is particularly applied 
to the north winds, which, during March and September, blow on 
our coasts. In navigation, they are aptly termed monsoon and 
trade winds. Vide the Wonderful Magazine, on monsoons and 
trade winds, during the dog days in July, as they appear in Egypt; 
which differs much from those in March and September. 

During the latter part of the month of March, the equinox hap¬ 
pens, when day and night are of an equal length all over the globe, 
or rather, when the sun is in an equal time above and below the 
horizon : for the morning and evening twilight make apparent 
day considerably longer than night. This takes place about the 
25th of September. The first is termed the vernal, the latter, 
the autumnal equinox. At these times, storms and tempests are 
particularly frequent, whence they have always been the terror 
of mariners. February and March winds are boisterous and ve¬ 
hement to a proverb. 

A DREADFUL and terrific storm took place at Blackpool, during 
the night of February 7, 182G. Mr. T. Nickson’s hotel was seri¬ 
ously injured; and the beach suffered severely by this south-west 
wind ; the other hotels were also materially damaged. The sea 
rose to an uncommon height, and its roar was tremendous and 
awful. 

On Thursday, July 20, 1826, Rossal-hall, the seat of Peter 
Hesketh, Esq. was the scene of much festivity, to welcome the 
arrival of the hospitable owner of the manor and domain, and his 
amiable bride from Dover. On its being announced that they were 
on the road to Poulton, immediately the bells of Poulton church 
(of which he is patron) rung a merry peal, and a large flag was 
hoisted on the spire, with great rejoicing. About three miles from 
the hall they were met by his numerous tenantry, on horseback, 
who conducted them to the Hesketh Arms, (Cleveley’s), when the 
horses were taken from the carriage by his labourers, who joined 


HISTORY OF 


j 


5 (> 

hand and heart in drawing the happy pair to Rossal-hall, where an 
excellent dinner was served up in hospitable profusion, of which 
upwards of six hundred partook; and there was no lack of good 
brown stout, with which to drink health and happiness to the new 
married pair, and perpetuity to the ancient and honorable family 
of Hesketh, root and branch. 

During Lammas-tide, August, 1827, vast numbers of carts 
and other vehicles passed through Preston from Blackburn, Burn¬ 
ley, Colne, Padiham, and the borders of Yorkshire, pressing for¬ 
ward to the saline shores of Blackpool and Lytham, to the great 
surprise of many, who had not seen so much company in former 
years. The visitors were so numerous at Blackpool, as to be 
obliged to take up their nightly abode in stables and outhouses, for 
want of room in the lodging-houses and inferior inns. 

Dreadful Catastrophe.— On the 20th August, 1828, Cap¬ 
tain Wilding of Liverpool, sailed from the river Wyre, in an open 
boat, accompanied by his mate and cabin boy, and a young gen¬ 
tleman of Poulton, named Mr. Henry Threlfall;—they perished 
betwixt Blackpool and Lytham. A trunk and three hats were 
washed up at Blackpool. The bodies were found afterwards, be¬ 
twixt the point of Ayr, Isle of Man, and the Isle of Whithorn, 
and Coll, in the Dumfries river. 

Marriage of Miss Hesketh.— On Wednesday, September 
17,1828, married at the parish church of Poulton, by the Rev. 
Charles Hesketh, vicar,’Thomas John Knowlys, Esq., of Trinity 
College, Oxford, nephew of the recorder of London, to the ami¬ 
able Hannah Maria Martha Hesketh, only daughter of the late 
Robert Hesketh, Esq., of Rossal-hall, in this county. She is the 
first of the ancient family of Hesketh, who have been married at 
Poulton. The superb and elegant dresses of the bride and the 
ladies in attendance, gave great magnificence to the bridal scene. 
Among the carriages with four horses each, that came from Rossal- 
hall, we perceived that of Sir Thomas Dalrymple Hesketh, of 
R-ufford-hall, Baronet, with his two daughters; also, Miss Hes¬ 
keth, of Tulket-hall, in similar style. After the nuptial ceremony 
was performed, the bells struck up a merry peal, and a large flag 
was hoisted upon the church tower, with great rejoicing in honor 
’of the event. The happy pair immediately went off in the bride¬ 
groom’s new carriage and four to the Lakes in Westmoreland. The 
other carriages drove off to Rossal-hall, the seat of the bride’s bro- 
brother, P. Hesketh, Esq.: followed by their numerous servants; 


BLACKPOOL. 


57 


the men having white favors on their hats. We fear the poor of 
Thornton, near Rossal, will be bereaved of a kind benefactress, 
who contributed largely to their support. 

Air propelled Carriage.— July, 1829.—Peter Hesketh, 
Esq., of Rossal-hall, has lately received an air chariot, brought by 
Captain Parkinson, of the Knot End, from Liverpool. It is pro¬ 
pelled on the sands by wind, having sails in every respect similar 
to those of a boat, and runs upon four wheels. We understand it 
was built at Dover, and can be steered with the greatest facility 
with a side or stern wind. This appears to be a copy of the one, 
an engraving and description of which is given in a work entitled, 
‘‘ Curiosities for the Ingenious,” published in 1822, by Boys, of 
Ludgate-hill. Pocock’s kites would answer every purpose instead 
of sails. 

A wind carriage is also mentioned in the Liverpool Kaleido¬ 
scope of September 15th, 1829 ; for a description of which we shall 
refer the curious to the above publication. 

The great obstacle to all mechanical contrivances for impelling 
carriages, without horses, have hitherto been the friction and the 
inequality of ordinary roads, two sources of failure which have been 
removed by the introduction of rail-roads ;* in consequence of 
which, the principle of vehicles like the one mentioned in the 
Kaleidoscope, possesses enhanced claims on the attention of the 
public. 

* Witness the steam engines upon the Liverpool rail-road. The steam 
engine regulates with perfect accuracy and uniformity the number of its 
strokes in a given time, and it counts and records them as a clock does the 
beat of the pendulum; it regxilates the quantity of steam admitted to work : 
the briskness of the fire—it opens and shuts its valves with mathematical 
precision as to time and manner—oils its joints—it takes out any air which 
may accidentally enter into its parts which should be vacuous—it warns its 
attendants by ringing a bell, when any thing goes wrong which it cannot itself 
rectify: and with all these talents and qualities, and though it have the power 
of six hundred horses, it is obedient to the hand of a child. Its aliment is 
coal, wood, charcoal, or other combustibles; it consumes none whilst idle ; it 
never tires, and wants no sleep ; it is not subject to malady when originally 
well made, and only refuses to work when worn out with age : it is a water 
pumper, a miner, a sailor, a cotton spinner, a weaver, a blacksmith, a miller, 
a chair maker, a flax dresser, a bobbin turner, indeed it is of all occupations : 
and a small engine in the character of a steam pony, may be seen dragging 
after it on a rail-way ninety tons of merchandize, or a regiment of soldiers, 
with speed greater than our fleetest coaches. It is the king of machines, and 
a permanent realization of the Genii of Eastern fable, whose supernatural 

H 


HISTORY OF 


OB 


Ill an open country like Blackpool, where there is a large tract 
of level and smooth ground, and frecpieiit strong Avinds, a machine 
of this sort will certainly be very convenient, by atlording a plea¬ 
sant and healthful exercise. 

Sailing carriages were tirst invented by Simon Stevin of Bruges, 
during the latter end of the sixteenth century; and with far more 
success than has attended the recent attempt of fifteen miles an 
hour upon the grand rail-road at Charlestown, in America. For 
twenty-eight persons were conveyed fourteen leagues (a league is 
three miles) in two hours, from the town of Scheveningen in North 
Holland to Petten. Prince Maurice of Orange N assau, proved him¬ 
self, in this casebyits management, as good a pilot as he was a General. 

On Saturday morning, the 6th of March, 1830, Kossal hall, the 
seat of Peter Hesketh, Esq., the then much respected High Sheriff, 
Avas the scene of great festivity and true English hospitality. A 
great number of respectable people, for several miles round, assem¬ 
bled to partake of a public breakfast. On passing through Poulton, 
the High Sheriff and his attendants formed a train of one mile and 
a quarter on the road. The dress of the High Sheriff, and the li¬ 
veries of the officers and javelin-men, were most superb. Twenty- 
six carriages were in the procession before he reached Lancaster. 
Mr. M‘Kie of Garstang, got up a magnificent collation upon the 
occasion, where forty gentlemen, and one hundred attendants par¬ 
took at the Royal Oak Inn. Me must not omit to mention, that 
dohn Fleetwood, Esq., of Rossal-hall, was High Sheriff in the year 
1578, (Elizabeth’s reign). A great accession of property came 
into the family of the Heskeths, by their alliance with the worthy 
families of the Fleetwoods and the Bolds. 

Rossal, a hamlet in the township of Thornton, parish of Poul¬ 
ton, in the Fylde, hundred of Amounderness, three miles north 
west from Poulton. Rossal-hall is the seat of Peter Hesketh, 
Esq., and was formerly a grange to the abbey of Deu-lacres, 
in the county of Stafford. Here was born, in the year 1532, 
William Allen, one of tire few Englishmen, who have been honored 

powers were occasionally at the command of men. All the miracles of loco¬ 
motion, the arrow of Abaris, the car of Phaeton, the flying serpents of Tripto- 
lemus, will be t irdy and trifling to the steam horse—Pegasus himself never 
soared higlrer flights, nor the Python was more irresistible than that of a 
steam engine. Gurney’s steam carriage, and Perkin’s steam engine for throw¬ 
ing balls, have all surprised the public. For other matter upon this mighty 
s-ubject, vide the Mechanic’s Magazine, and otlier valuable and scientific 
works of the day. 


BLACKPOOL. , 


59 


by the Apostolic See, with a cardinars hat; he was the sou of 
a geutlemaii, and admitted a lellow of Qriel college, in 1550. At 
that time he must, have protessed the reformed religion; but he 
seems to have changed in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, as in 
1557, he was proctor tor the University of Oxford, and after the 
accession of Elizabeth, he settled at Douay, in Flanders; but, still 
active and zealous in a cause which he held to be truth—he re¬ 
turned to Oxford ; but, being observed, and his life endangered, he 
withdrew to the Continent, where he procured the establishment 
of the Catholic seminaries of Douay and Rheims, a third at Rome, 
and two others in Spain, for maintaining the interests of the ancient 
church amongst his countrymen. By such unwearied zeal, he ob¬ 
tained the purple from Sixtus Quintus, then Pope—and died at 
Rome in 1594. Cardinal A llen was a man of virtue and talent, 
sincere and consistent. He was the author of several works in 
defence of a middle state, which surprised many by their depth of' 
theological reasoning, and his quotations to prove that doctrine 
coeval with Christianity, from the fathers of the Greek and Latin 
church. “ Vita enim mortuorum in memoria vivorum est posita.” 
Allen survives in remembrance, and still exists, as a biographer 
would say, in fair report. 

l\lark ye the spirit of the just, 

In lowly conliclence advance ! 

A veil o’erspreads yon yawning deep. 

And terror flies his angel face. 

His brow soft gleams of hope illume ; 

On wings ol love his flight is press’d ; 

Faith smiles, an<l lends her heaven-born stay. 

And Mercy folds him to her breast. 


William Fleetwood of Rossal, near Poulton, and a branch of 
the Becconsal, Penwortham, and Plumpton parva family, a very 
learned English bishop, in the beginning of the eighteenth century. 
He distinguished himself during King William’s reign, by his 
“ Inscriptionum Antiquarum Sylloge”—by several sermons he 
preached on public occasions—and his “ Essay on Miracles.” 

* Douay college w'as founded in the year 1568, by Dr. William Allen, to 
train up English scholars in virtue and learning and to qualify them to labour 
in the vineyard of the Lord, on their return to their native country. It was 
the first college in the Christian world, instituted according to the model 
given by the Council of Trent. Vide IMem : Miss : Priests, vol. 1, page 2 —~ 
Ed. 1711. 



60 


HISTORV OF 


He was designed, by King William, to a canonry of Windsor; 
the grant did not pass the seals before the King’s death; but the 
Queen gave it him, and he was installed in 1702. In 1703, he 
took a resolution to retire : and in 1707 published without his name, 
his ‘‘ Chronicon Preteosum.” In 1708, he was nominated by the 
Queen, to the see of St. Asaph. The change of the Queen’s minis- 
try gave him regret. In 1710, he published a tract, entitled The 
Thirteenth Chapter of the Romans vindicated from the abusive 
senses put upon it.” In 1714, he was translated to the bishoprick of 
-Ely, and died in 1723, aged 67. He published several sermons 
and tracts; and was a man of great learning and exemplary piety. 

The Tyldesleys of Blackpool :—Inscription upon a brass 
plate on a monument in Wigan-lane. 

** An high act of gratitude, which conveys the memory of Sir 
Thomas Tyldesley to posterity—who served King Charles the first, 
as Lieutenant-Colonel at Edge-hill battle, after raising regiments 
of horse, foot, and dragoons—and for the desperate storming of 
Burton-upon-Trent, over a bridge of thirty-six arches, received 
the honour of knighthood. He afterwards served in all the wars, 
in great command, was Governor of Lichfield, and followed the 
fortunes of the crown through the three kingdoms—and never com¬ 
pounded with the Rebels, though strongly invested ; and on the 
25th of August, A. D. 1650, was here slain, commanding as Major 
General, under the Earl of Derby, to whom the grateful erector, 
Alexander Rigbye, Esq. was Cornet—and when he w^as High 
Sheriff of this county, A. D. 1679, placed this high obligation on 
the whole family of the Tyldesleys.” 

At a public-house, the sign of the Dog, in the Market-place, 
Wigan, there was a brass plate, containing the arms of the Isle of 
Man, though nearly defaced, and the inscription “ Honi soit qui 
mal y’ pense” engraved round it. This house. Lord Derby fled 
into after the battle ; and there is an upper room, in which his 
lordship took refuge—called, to this day, “ Beeston Castle.” The 
house has lately been taken down and rebuilt, and the brass plate 
was taken to Knowsley. 

In 1660, King Charles the Second, made Edward Tyldesley, 
Esq., a Knight of the Royal Oak,” in consequence of wLat his 
ancestor, Thomas Tyldesley had done, and himself, in defence of 
their lawful sovereigns. Edward Tyldesley was possessed of a 
good estate at this time, of one thousand pounds per annum. Vide, 
Wotton’s Baronetage, vol. 4, page 368. 


i 


BLACKPOOL. 


61 


This Edward had inscribed, in alto relievo, over the portico at 
Vaux-hall, Blackpool, the motto of the knights of the royal oak— 

Seris Eactura Nepotibiis.’’ Vide this History, pages, 6 and 26, 
1554. During the days of Mary Queen of England, a sudden 
irruption of the sea took place at Dossal grange,—the sea washed 
in a whole village, called Singleton Thorp. The inhabitants were 
obliged to flee from the ancient spot, and erected their tents at the 
place, called Singleton to this day.’’—Dodsworth. 

In the year 1792, at low water mark, a number of trunks of 
trees lay in various directions upon the sands of the sea, which 
proved that there had been a village near Dossal. The inhabitants, 
it is said, fled—when the degradation of their property and homes 
took place, through the incursions of the tide—and planted them¬ 
selves as a kind of colony, where Singleton village now is. Vide 
History of Southport, page 123. 

Bispham Church. —The last time the Catholic worship was 
celebrated in this ancient church, was in March, 1559. The Be¬ 
nedictine, Jerome Allen, was at that time, pastor of Bispham. He 
called his flock together, and celebrated the holy sacrifice, at nine 
of the clock, on the 25th of the said month.— Suffused with tears, 
this holy and good man admonished his people to obey the present 
Queen, (Elizabeth,) who had succeeded the late one, (Mary,) and 
begged of them to love God above all things, and their neighbours 
as themselves; after which he gave them the benediction of the 
holy sacrament. It was said that he repaired to Lambspring, in 
Germany; where he spent the remainder of his life in penitence 
and prayer.— Dishton’s Diary. 

Curious Astronomical Clock. —Mr. Diehard Bonny, of 
Blackpool, possesses a curious and rare astronomical clock, made 
in the year 1766, being the sixth year of George the Third. This 
singular piece of horology has two dials—the first is a regular eight 
days piece, which works upon its axis a terrestial globe, (which is 
placed underneath,) ’within a quadrant, in its regular and uniform 
rotations. The second is termed an astronomical clock, and is wound 
up only once in twenty-one years, and strikes the bell once every 
shortest day, and once every longest day, in each year. The celes¬ 
tial globe is worked by its movements, and is placed beneath the 
dial in a similar manner to the other. The two dials with their 
movements, are deposited in a kind of glass-case, surmounting a 
desk, and are well worth the attention of the curious who visit the 
shores of Blackpool. 


62 


HISTORY OF 


This horologe gives the dominical letter, golden number, the 
Epact, the solar cycle, Roman indiction, the time of Septua- 
gesima, the Pasch, or Easter-day, Pentecost, or Whitsuntide, the 
time of Advent, the Nativity, or Christmas-day; the rising and 
setting of the sun each day, the new and full moon ; also, the vernal 
and autumnal Equinoxes; summer solstice, and the twelve signs 
of the Zodiac, according to the months of the year. 

This piece of curious workmanship was made by Mr. Lawrence 
Earnshaw, and valued in 17 G 6 , at seventeen guineas. Mr. Park, 
watchmaker, of Preston, has renovated the same latterly, and we 
expect at present, that it is going its regular round. 

“ Tenipus Rerum Imperator.” 


ANALECT.E : 

FORMING A COLLECTION OF SMALL PIECES, 

IN PROSE AND POETRY. 


A Compiler is, of all kinds of writers, the most responsible ta 
the public for his productions ; for as the whole field of literature 
is before him, blooming with the labours of other men, it is reason¬ 
able to expect, that he will present us with what is most elegant 
in its kind. 

’Tis necessary a writing critic should understand how to write. 
And though every writer is not bound to show himself in the ca¬ 
pacity of a critic, every writing critic is bound to show himself 
capable of being a writer.” 


THE SAILOR BOY, AT BLACKPOOL. 

“ To others let me always give, 

What I from others avouUI receive; 

Good deeds for evil ones return, 

Nor, when provoked, wdth anger burn.” 

As I was sauntering along the beach, at Blackpool, during the 
month of August, 1810 , I met a'poor sailor boy, dressed in ragged 







BLACKPOOL. 


63 


blue clothes : he looked pitiful, and asked for charity ; I stood, and 
after some time, said God bless you.” I asked him, “ Where 
do you come from?” he replied, “from Dundalk, in Ireland, 
please master.” “ Have you any parents?” said I; “ I know of 
none,” he continued, saying, “ I was sent to sea from the hospital; 
and landed at Lytham; the master of the vessel will not take me 
back again to Ireland ; I have no home ; I am on my way, kind 
master, to ”—tears started in his eyes—“ I dontknow where :” he 
looked downcast and sorrowful ; I put my hand in to my pocket, 
and gave him a shilling ; he bowed, and, said in plaintive tone, 
“ God bless you, master, for your goodness.” “ You are welcome,” 
said I, and said; “You are very young, my boy?” “Young, 
very young; I am only twelve years of age, come September next,” 
he replied. “ Are you willing to work at any thing for meat and 
clothing?” “ Yes,” said he, “ I will work for any body—God 
bless you, master—can you tell me of a place? I said that “ I 
knew of none.” Tears came from his eyes profusely; and as I 
took him by the hand, they fell warm on mine : sympathy struck 
me to the heart: I felt for the orphan Irish boy—bereft of parents 
—no one to look after him—to counsel him—to instruct him in 
those duties which he owed to God and man. “ God help thee,” 
said I secretly. These were pleasant moments for a feeling heart 
—they were sentimental, as Sterne says. “ Be honest, my boy, and 
be civil—love God—and do no injury to any one—and you shall 
prosper.” I parted from this youthful object of compassion, with 
a full heart, and thought what a hard case it was, for a child to be 
thrown upon the wide world—without parents, or friends, or ad¬ 
visers, an orphan. Envy me not the feelings I then possessed, ye 
who have never felt for the woes of others. 

Buf; my father and mother were summon’d away, 

And they left me to hard-hearted strangers a prey ; 

I fled from their rigour with many a sigh. 

And now I’m a poor little wandering boy.” 

I met him a second time at the door of the hotel, his eyes looked 
after me along the corridor of the place—I ordered the Maitre d’ 
hotel to give him a good repast—he partook, and returned me 
thanks. They were kindly, and I believe sincerely given. I gave 
him one shilling more, and wished the orphan boy to make the best 
of his way from Blackpool to Liverpool. I hacV previous to all 
this, written a note—‘it was a recommendation as an orphan boy, 


64 


HISTORY OF 


who had greatly interested me when on a visit to Blackpool. If 

was to Messrs.-, merchants, in Liverpool. He w-^as 

joyfully received on trial, and was sent on a voyage to Asia—he con¬ 
tinued with them and made an excellent seaman. My enquiries 
after him were frequent—he grew up in years and in knowledge—was 
highly respected by the captain and his shipmates—saved money— 
was honest and upright—and became steward of the vessel. He 
married a kind hearted female—and now lives on the Cheshire side 
of the water, (opposite Liverpool,) happy and contented; and, 
moreover, respected by his old masters, the merchants, who always 
remember the orphan boy. He is beloved by his neighbours—has 
lent the money amassed by honest industry, and is now living upon 
the interest; and has two blooming children to comfort his days. 
They all live in a state of happiness.—Fortune is sometimes fickle, 
and as adverse as the winds—but in this case, she has favored the 
poor Irish orphan boy of Dundalk. 

Sept. 15tli, 1830—Birkenhead. AMICUS. 


LINES WRITTEN DURING THE STORM. 


Oh ocean ! dread ocean ! why rage with such storm ? 

What ails thee ? Why number’st thou us 'mongst thy foes ? 
Why, rampant, now threaten our coast to deform. 

And swallow us up in thy merciless jaws 1 

T’is not that we fail in our homage to thee. 

Or even are cold for thy favours bestow’d : 

Then why all this rage in thy face do I see ? 

Why, foaming and roaring, thus shake our abode ? 

Be smooth as thou’rt wont on a fine summer’s eve. 

When the bright orb of day lingers long in the west 
To view his fair form in thy face, and take leave 
Of the earth, ere he sinks on thy bosom to rest. 

Or polish’d, as when the mild zephyrs scarce play 
And dapple with kisses thy beautiful face. 

And the queen of the night is pursuing her way 

Through heaven’s still vault with a still solemn pace. 

O cease this harsh roar! that'now deadens my mind. 

And spare this dear walk for thy votaries’ sake. 

That still they may catch, as she rides on the wind. 

Sweet roseate health, and her comfort partake. 

Blackpool, April 2d, 1824. 





4 


BLACKPOOL. 

THE OCEAN. 


Go 


When he strengthened the fountains of the deep; when he gave to the sea 
his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandments.”—Proverbs. 

Of all the sublime objects which Nature, in her infinitely-varying 
appearances, is constantly offering to our view, there is none which 
• excites in the mind such lofty ideas of her real majesty and gran¬ 
deur, as the sea. Other objects in nature are capable of exciting 
these feelings, but not to so great an extent; a long chain of lofty 
mountains, traversing the whole width of some large continent, as 
those of South America, or the mountains of the Moon, in Africa, 
or the less gigantic piles of the Alpine or Pyrennean scenery, will 
compel us to feel irresistibly the vastness and magnificence of na¬ 
ture ; but still they are, comparatively speaking, easily travelled 
over, their altitude taken, their extent measured, till the eye becomes 
familiarized with their bulk, and considers them, in reference to 
the whole size of the earth, merely as insignificant mole-hills pro-^ 
jecting from its surface ; but the sea, stretched out in its mighty 
expanse, gives us some notion of immensity, at least, more com¬ 
pletely so than any other object which nature can offer. There 
are depths and profundities in it which have never been fathomed, 
and paths in it which have never been tracked ; it is true, indeed, 
that man can skim its surface, and traverse it to any extent, and in 
every direction, but he can make no durable impression upon the 
ungovernable element—can never tread again the same path—his 
bark can never travel again in the same furrow—the waters close 
over it for ever, and present again the same aspect as before ; never 
changed, except by their own motion ; and never acted upon, ex¬ 
cept by the agents of nature. There is something magnificent and 
imposing in the changelessness of the ocean ; age after age it main¬ 
tains the regularity of its tides, never overstepping the barriers with 
which nature has enclosed it, and never yielding that ground on 
which its waters first flowed—never shewing its all-hidden chan¬ 
nels, or developing those secrets which must for ever remain untold 
in the depths of its caverns and abysses ; it still obeys the command 
of the Deity—Hitherto shalt thou come and no further, and here 
shall thy proud waves be stayed.” Nor is there in the whole range 
of nature a grander, or more magnificent scene than the ocean, in a 
storm, when deep calls unto deep, and its liquid mountains roll and 

break against each other; when it dashes to pieces, in the wanton- 

I 



60 


HISTOKY OF 


ness of its power, the strongest structures which man can rear for 
the purpose of floating over its billows ; then it is that the proudest 
and bravest tremble and quail at the roaring and thunder of its 
waters. If we look at it in a calm, too, there is something almost 
as imposing in its aspect; stretched out in its sleeping tranquility, 
but looking fearfully deep, and ifs silence seeming like that of the 
lion when crouching for its prey. 

And the treasures which it holds are well worthy the mysterious¬ 
ness, and seclusion, and security of the casket. There, amidst its 
inmost recesses, amidst its caverns and hidden depths, are contained 
secrets which can never be divulged ; there the mighty monsters of 
the deep, many of them unknown to us, play and sport; there the 
beautiful beds of pearl and coral hide their bright treasures; there 
the tough and hardy sea-weed clings to its isolated and solitary 
rock, fathoms and fathoms below the surface of the water : there, 
doubtless, lies many a beautiful spot, which, if it could be elevated 
from beneath the superincumbent weight of waters, would be found 
some beautiful island, glittering with all the treasures of the ocean— 

“ Full many a gem of purest ray serene 

The dark unfatliomed caves of ocean bear.’* 

Yes—they waste all their beauty upon its lonely and unseen ca¬ 
verns, where the light of day scarcely sheds sufficient radiance to 
create and preserve color. And oh ! if the wave could speak in 
any other language than that of its own harsh thunder, how many 
tales of agony and suffering might it unfold ! What myriads of 
our fellow creatures have been swallowed up in its fathomless 
depths! What myriads of human bones bestrew the floor of the 
ocean ! But not for ever shall they be entombed there ; the day 
will come when the deep shall be called upon to “ deliver up its 
dead,’^ and disclose the secrets it contains. 


THE BEAUTIES OF THE OCEAN. 


“ The moon has wonderful influence on the motion of the sea, and the study 
of selenography is highly interesting.”—Bacon. 

“ The great Scipio amused himself by picking up shells on the sea shore.”— 
Plutarch’s Lives. 

No person who has walked along the sea shore but must have ob¬ 
served that incessant noise, that continued murmur, which even when 
iLofC. 





BLACKPOOL. 


67 


the greatest calm prevails, salutes his ear, and the beautiful white 
edging by which the floating mantle is fringed at its extremities. 
This soft and placid murmur, and those grateful white curls, are 
occasioned by the motion of the waves on the extended beach ; and 
trivial as they may appear, serve as ])erpetual monitors to warn the 
passenger where the line of boundary commences, which separates 
the land from the water ; and as the rushing noise of the rapid river, 
and the tremendous roar of the dreadful cataract serve to point out 
the path of danger tothe bewildered traveller, })articularly under the 
clouel of night —these, as well as the luminous appearance of the sea, 
and the noise of the breakers on the rocks, in regions more remote 
from the habitations of men, may also be of use to the mariner in 
the midnight gloom, by enabling him to steer clear of impending 
dangers. The luminous appearance of the surface of the ocean 
during the obscurity of the night, has been remarked by navigators 
and others, and is a curious phenomenon which has long exercised 
the sagacity of philosophers : but without enquiring into the cause 
of this singular phosphoric property of the waters by which they are 
illuminated, and rendered more visible among breakers, or where 
the greatest agitation prevails, we must allow that it, as well as the 
noise which they make in a state of turbulence, has been wisely 
imparted to the waves of the deep ; for in the words of an elegant 
writer—How many vessels would perish amid the darkness, were 
it not for those miraculous beacons, kindled by Providence upon 
the rocks!” 

To a spectator on land, the sea appears to be higher than the spot 
on which he stands ; this, however, is by no means the case, as is 
demonstrated by the same experiment by which a globular form of 
the earth is proved ; namely, the sinking of the hull of a ship in the 
horizon, as she recedes from our view, before the sails and higher 
parts disappear. This illusion is occasioned by that refraction in 
the atmosphere, or property of vision, by which objects are made to 
rise in the landscape in proportion to their distance from us, by 
which means our horizon is increased, and objects longer kept in 
view, which otherwise must have been extremely limited, and our 
prospects of short duration. 

We labour also, under a deception in regard to the color of the 
sea; for although when viewed from a precipice its waters aflbrd a 
muddy greenish hue, arising from the depth and position of the eye, 
when beheld from a shelving beach, it assumes the color of the sky; 
although it is dark and black in the deep abyss, white and foaming 


G8 


HISTORY OF 


in a storm, clouded vitli the most beautiful colors when the rays of 
the setting sun shine upon it, or puts on the appearance of a beauti¬ 
ful green, when beheld from a boat on a sun-shine day, over a sandy 
bottom. Yet there can be no doubt but the sea-water is of itself 
transparent and colorless, and that the various appearances it puts 
on must be entirely owing to accidental|causes; and indeed how 
could it be otherwise, but that the medium of vision to so many 
living creatures should have remained in such a transparent and 
untinged state as to enable them to distinguish each other, and 
the numerous inanimate objects which are to be found in it, by 
their color. 

The bottom of the sea* being supposed to resemble the surface 
of the dry land, these inequalities in its depth which occasion the 
mariner to be so much on the alert, may easily be accounted for. 
But if these are the causes of the deceitful shallows and dangerous 
rocks, it must not be forgotten, that to these also we owe the deep 
unfathomable gulphs over which the vessel glides in safety, and 
those numerous islands which adorn and diversify the surface of 
the ocean:— 


“ Who can old ocean’s pathless bed explore. 
And count her tribes that people every shore.” 


* It appears from chemical experiments, that great quantities of water are 
continually discharged into the air by evaporation. It is said that the eva¬ 
poration from the Mediterranean sea alone is sutiicieat to yield all the water 
of the rivers which run into it. Evaporation answers various important pur¬ 
poses :—First, the surface of the earth is thereby freed from superfluous 
moisture, and rendered fitter for producing those articles which are necessary 
for the sustenance of terrestial animals. Second, in its ascent it purifies the 
air, and prevents too much dryness, which is unfavorable to health. Third, 
when it descends in the shape of rain, the air is also improved ; for the rain 
brings down to the surface of the earth all terrene and saline particles that it 
meets with, and thus promotes vegetation. And, lastly, this perpetual circu¬ 
lation of water promotes, in the highest degree, all the most beneficial pur¬ 
poses of nature. 

The terms exhalation and vapour are ordinarily used indifferently; but the 
more accurate writers distinguish them; appropriating the term vapour to the 
moist fumes raised from water and liquid bodies; and exhalations to the dry 
ones emitted from solid bodies; as earth, fire, minerals, sulphurs, salts, &c. 
In this sense, exhalations are dry subtile corpuscles, or effluvia, loosened from 
hard terrestial bodies, either by the heat of the sun, or the agitation of the 
air, or some other cause; and emitted upward to a certain height of the atmos¬ 
phere, where, mixing with the vapours, they help to constitute clouds, aud 
return back m dews, mists, rains, &c. 


BLACKPOOL. 


(>9 


THE MEETING AND SEPARATION. 

A FRAGMENT. 


(From the embryo Novel of “ Blackpool.”) 


How often have I wandered on the sea shore at Blackpool, by the light of the 
“ cold, pale moon,” observing the coming tide, with not an echo save the 
cry of the solitary sea mew; and perhaps only roused by an impetuous 
steamer (the John o’Gaunt,) like some unearthly thing, rushing rapidly 
past me. The recollection of such a moment as this, is treasured up in 
the memory as a precious relic in the oasis of existence. 

On returning to the inn in Chorley, previous to our final departure 
from that town, finding that the chaise was not yet ready, an im¬ 
pulse for which I should find it difficult to account, prompted me 
to walk on before, in order to see something more of the young 
lady, who had so unluckily attracted the curate’s notice, and whom 
I understood from the landlord to be a Miss Ch-ck, from Ire¬ 

land. I did so ; and the accidental dropping of a glove furnished 
me with an opportunity of accosting her, of which I immediately 
availed myself, with all the politeness I could muster. 

It is realy most surprising what a trifling circumstance may—■’ 
nay, often does, alter the whole course of a man’s future life, as a 
small pebble, by turning a river at its source, may thus influence 
the destinies of half the globe. For my own part, at any rate, no 
one living has greater reason to subscribe to the truth of the observa¬ 
tion. How many little unforeseen incidents have from time to time 
wrought a total change in my plans for the future ; but that, when 
some decisive step, was taken in consequence, as suddenly passed 
away, as if they had never occurred ! 

“ How fortunate. Madam,” said I, approaching the lady with a 
respectful bow, “ how very fortunate that you should just now have 
picked up that roll of paper. It may contain something of impor¬ 
tance to you, and has obtained for me the honor of presenting you 
with this glove, which you then let fall.” 

I thank you. Sir,” replied she, “ but should this paper really 
contain any thing of the nature you suppose, I regret that it is writ¬ 
ten in so very, very small hand, that, to me at least, it is perfectly 
illegible.” 

“ Might a stranger interfere ?” 




70 


HISTORY OF 


“ Oh, certainly !” Here she handed me the scroll, while, I 
know not through what cause, my hand trembled, as if I were at 
that moment about to learn my own unalterable destiny. 

“ Will you allow me,’’ she said, after walking in silence for a 
few seconds, and blushing deeply as she spoke, “ will you allow 
me to observe, that should you turn the paper, you might find it 
less difficult to read.” 

And this was indeed necessary ; for, without being at all aware 
of my mistake, I actually had it turned the wrong way; but my 
ideas were at that moment otherwise engaged ; to confess the truth, 
1 had completely lost myself in the contemplation of one of the 
most charming, the most innocent countenances, I ever beheld. 
Yes, innocent; for seldom have I met with one more indicative of 
innocence, of tenderness, and of good nature, nor in which were 
assembled so many traits expressive of the most perfect amiability. 
The flush of health, too, sat upon her cheek ; yet, methought it 
seemed to be rather the health of the tender violet, than of the 
blushing rose; and her manners were as cheerful and unsophisti¬ 
cated, as her heart was pure. But why dwell so long on a topic 
so dangerous ?—why love to draw a portrait, the original of which 
I may never more behold ? 

To resume, the last observation of my fair companion recalled me 
to myself, and after poring over the mysterious scroll for some 
moments, I was at length compelled to acknowledge my total in¬ 
ability to decipher it. She declined, however, to take it again, 
saying with a smile, “ Perhaps you may be able, at some future 
period, to discover its import.” 

And if ever I am, sweet girl,” replied I, and that it aught 
concerns thee to know, I swear by that sun which now flames from 
on high; and by that fate which has driven me hither, that thou 
shalt know, though for that purpose alone, and to benefit thee, I 
were to travel, bareheaded and barefoot, from the remotest corner 
of the world !” At this instant we were overtaken by the chaise, 
and I bade a reluctant adieu. 

Seated once more by the side of the now taciturn curate, I kissed 
the paper, (which I still held in my hand) in memory of her from 
whom I received it, and then folding it up, and placing it carefully 
in my pocket book, I began to reflect seriously on the occurrences 
of the last twenty minutes. “ And has my evil destiny,” thought 
I, “ followed me even here ? Has that star which seems to have 
shed its malignant influence round my birth-day couch, has it pur- 


BLACKPOOL. 


71 


sued me to this obscure spot, where one should think I might have- 
passed whole years unknowing, as I am unknown ? Upon how 
many’contingent circumstances, all of them improbable in the highest 
degree, until they had actually taken place, depended my rencounter 
with this interesting girl, and how soon have we parted—perhaps 
never to meet more I If so it has been decreed—if it is—if it must 
be so—then farewell Isabelle; may uninterrupted happiness ever 
attend thy future course through the vale of life ! Our meeting was 
unexpected; our acquaintance short; already forgotten by thee, 
and for me not unmixed with pain. Yet I will remember thee, 
gentle Isabelle, as the pilgrim, after having journeyed through Ara¬ 
bian deserts, calls to mind some pure fountain at which he laved his 
parched lips, when ready to sink under the pressure of anxiety and 
fatigue. In his dreams he again wanders through the desert; again 
raising his blood-shot eyes to heaven for protection, he falls pros¬ 
trate on the burning sands, to escape the fury of the dread tornado, 
and again he hears the murmuring of that crystal rivulet which 
marked the termination of his disasters, when, suddenly starting 
from his slumber, he sighs to find it was merely a dream, and would 
brave-once more all the perils of the wilderness, its parched sands 
and fatal tornado, to catch but the sound of that fountain again. 
So, while travelling through the desert of this life, shall I re¬ 
member thee. Isabelle, farewell! 


SUMMER BATHING ; 

SEA air; refreshing breezes ; COUNTRY EXCURSIONS. 

‘‘ From brightening fields of ether fair disclos’d, 

Child of the sun, refulgent summer, comes 
In pride of youth, and felt thro’ nature’s depth ; 

He comes attended by the sultry hours. 

And ever-fanning breezes, on his way ; 

While from his ardent look, the turning spring 
Averts his blushful face, and earth and skies. 

All smiling, to his hot dominion leaves.” 

At a season of the year when health, pleasure, change of air, 
romantic scenery, rural rides, verdant and salubrious foliage, and 
summer breezes, invite alike the hypochondriac, the valetudinarian, 
the nervous, the debilitated, the gay, the fashionable, the man of 
pleasure, and the cit, to desert, for a while, the dull and pon¬ 
derous monotony of a town life, and, if we may use the very 





appropriate simile, when toil remitting lends its turn to play,’^ we 
conceive that a few of our pages cannot be better devoted, than in 
drawing the attention of our readers to a most essential and indis¬ 
pensable article in the rational code of health-and long life. Bath¬ 
ing, (which comprehends exercise and recreation, with a view to 
restoring lost spirits, re-invigorating a weakly constitution, and 
dissipating nervous and unfounded diseases,) amidst the fragrant 
air, wafting health and energy in every breeze. Country peram¬ 
bulations to towns’-folk, and more particularly to those of sedentary 
habits, are attended with a variety of advantages, as well physical as 
corporeal. The face of nature welcomes its sportive, as well as 
its afflicted votaries; every shadowed grove, blossom, and flower, 
has its peculiar charm, character, and odour; every zephyr its 
agreeable and refreshing influence; while every nerve vibrates with 
new energy, and fresh delight; fanned by the summer gales, far 
from the noise, stench, smoke, and bustle of an overgrown, and 
pestiferous town, where every court, alley, and lane, emits all but 
the fragrance of the rose, or the delightful perfume of the azure 
violet. 

The greatest, and surest preserver of health, is cleanliness. To 
this important consideration, the ancients were more attentive than the 
moderns have hitherto been. The daily use of the bath, and of the 
currycombs with which they scraped their body, produced great 
neatness, and entirely removed all impurities, and disagreeable 
smells. The modern practice of wearing linen, does not equally 
effect these purposes, though we change our shirts ever so often. The 
observation will appear true to every one who considers that a very 
frequent shifting of our linen, will not clear the scurf from the skin, 
which can only be done by water, and the common practices at¬ 
tendant on the ancient mode of bathing. 

“The little bark, goes gaily on 
Careering o’er the deep ; 

The breeze so gently swells the sail, 

The winds seem chain’d in sleep. 

The playful billows lave her sides— 

Then burst —to rise no more : 

The sailor now in slumber lies, 

Or rests upon his oar !” 


PRINTED BY P. AND H. V/HITTLE, AT THE MARINA PRESS, FISHERGATE, PRESTON, 













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